Stormy weather will continue to prevail across Northern Luzon as Super Typhoon Leon (international name Kong-Rey) approaches Batanes, the weather bureau said Wednesday, Oct. 30.
Leon was last tracked 215 kilometers (kms) east southeast of Basco, Batanes as of 4 p.m. Wednesday
It packs maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.
Typhoon-force winds will prevail over Batanes, where tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 4 is hoisted.
Strong winds will be experienced in areas under TCWS no. 3: the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Camiguin Is., Calayan Is.), and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana).
Gale-force winds will prevail in areas where TCWS no. 2 is hoisted: the rest of Babuyan Islands, the rest of mainland Cagayan, the northern portion of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Santa Maria, Quezon, Delfin Albano, San Pablo, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Palanan, Quirino, Divilacan, Mallig, Maconacon, Gamu, Burgos, Roxas, San Mariano, Reina Mercedes, San Manuel, Naguilian, Benito Soliven), Apayao, Kalinga, the northern and eastern portions of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman), the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis), and Ilocos Norte.
TCWS no. 1 is hoisted over the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the rest of Abra, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, and the northeastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Paniqui, Moncada, Anao, San Manuel, Pura, Ramos, Victoria, Gerona, Santa Ignacia, City of Tarlac, La Paz). These areas will also experience strong winds.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said flash floods or landslides are possible in typhoon-affected areas due to heavy to intense rains.
“Within the next 48 hours, there is a moderate to high risk of life-threatening coastal flooding due to storm surge with peak heights exceeding three meters above normal tide levels over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes and Babuyan Islands,” PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. bulletin.
Gale warning is still hoisted over the seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.
Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.
The cyclone is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday night or Friday morning, PAGASA said.*PNA