By Brian Campued
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 has been raised over four areas in extreme northeastern Luzon as Severe Tropical Storm Leon intensifies into a typhoon Tuesday morning, the state weather bureau said.
In its tropical cyclone bulletin issued at 11:00 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “Leon” was last located at 555 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, moving west-northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour.
The typhoon packs maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.
“Bagaman offshore or nasa dagat pa ang tinatayang sentro [ng bagyo], may mga bahaging kaulapan nito o yung tinatawag nating spiral cloud bands na tumatama na sa ilang bahagi ng Luzon, partikular na sa eastern section ng Northern Luzon,” PAGASA Assistant Weather Services Chief, Engr. Chris Perez said in a public briefing.
TCWS No. 2 was hoisted over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Gattaran, Baggao, Lal-Lo, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Pe), and the northeastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Palanan, Maconacon).
The northern portions and the rest of the eastern section of Luzon, meanwhile, were placed under TCWS No. 1:
- Rest of mainland Cagayan
- Rest of Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Apayao
- Kalinga
- Abra
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Benguet
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Aurora
- Northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real) including Polillo Islands
- Camarines Norte
- Eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Tinambac, Siruma, Goa, Lagonoy, San Jose, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, Tigaon, Calabanga, Saglay)
- Catanduanes
- Eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Tiwi, Malilipot, Malinao, Santo Domingo, Manito)
- Northeastern portion of Sorsogon (Prieto Diaz, City of Sorsogon, Gubat)
In its track forecast, PAGASA said Leon will make landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan on Thursday (Oct. 31) before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
The agency added that Leon would be closest to Batanes on Thursday; a landfall scenario over the province is also possible if the typhoon shifts westward.
TCWS No. 3 and 4 may also be hoisted over Batanes and Babuyan Islands, while hoisting of TCWS No. 5 is not ruled out, as Leon may further reach its peak intensity, the super typhoon category.
A “moderate to high risk” of storm surge is also raised over the low-lying, coastal localities of Batanes and Babuyan Islands in the next 48 hours.
In terms of rainfall, intense to torrential rains are expected in Batanes and Cagayan including Babuyan Islands until Wednesday noon; heavy to intense rains over Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Isabela, Occidental Mindoro, and Antique.
Moderate to heavy rains will be experienced in Ilocos Sur, Abra, Kalinga, Calamian Islands, Romblon, Negros Occidental, and Aklan.
Strong to gale-force winds are also forecast today in Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Camiguin.
Meanwhile, gale warning was hoisted over the seaboards of Batanes, Isabela, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Aurora, Quezon including Polillo Islands, the eastern coast of Camarines Norte, and Catanduanes.
—iro