MANILA – Strong winds and heavy rains continue across Northern Luzon as Super Typhoon Leon (international name Kong-rey) passes close to Batanes, the weather bureau said Thursday.
Heavy rainfall over Batanes and Babuyan Group of Islands could result in flooding and landslide in flood-prone areas, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said as of 5 a.m.
Batanes’ local disaster response bodies said the towns of Uyugan, Sabtang and Mahatao are experiencing strong winds and heavy rains Thursday morning.
Most areas in Northern Luzon are forecast to experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains.
The cyclone packs maximum sustained winds of 195 km. per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.
It was located 100 km. east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.
Strong to typhoon-force winds will prevail over the northern and eastern portions of Batanes (Itbayat, Basco) where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 has been hoisted.
The rest of Batanes were placed under TCWS No. 4, and will experience typhoon-force winds.
TCWS No. 3 is hoisted over the northern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Calayan Is.). These areas will experience storm-force winds.
Gale-force winds will prevail in areas under TCWS No. 2: the rest of Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, the northern portion of Isabela (San Pablo, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan), Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.
Strong winds will prevail in areas under TCWS No. 1: the rest of Isabela, Quirino, the northern and central portions of Nueva Vizcaya (Bayombong, Dupax del Norte, Ambaguio, Bagabag, Villaverde, Kayapa, Santa Fe, Kasibu, Aritao, Bambang, Diadi, Dupax del Sur, Quezon, Solano), Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and the northern and central portions of Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Dilasag).
PAGASA said Leon will also bring gale-force winds in most of Cordillera Administrative Region, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora, Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Northern Samar and most of Western Visayas.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3 meters above normal tide levels over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes and Babuyan Islands in the next 48 hours.
Gale warning is hoisted over the seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon. Sea travel is risky all types or tonnage of vessels.
Meanwhile, the possibility of Leon making landfall over Batanes is now less likely.
It is expected to weaken into a typhoon in the next 12 hours. (PNA)