MANILA, Philippines – 'Bagyong Leon' (international name: Kong-rey) continues to threaten extreme Northern Luzon as it intensified into a super typhoon, state weather bureau PAGASA announced in its 11:00 a.m. bulletin on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
At 10:00 a.m. today, the center of the eye of Super Typhoon 'Leon' was estimated based on all available data at 350 km East of Calayan, Cagayan.
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| Satellite image of Super Typhoon Leon as of 11 am, October 30, 2024. Photo courtesy: DOST-PAGASA |
'Bagyong Leon' has maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 230 km/h, and central pressure of 925 hPa. It is moving west northwestward at 10 km/h.
TROPICAL CYCLONE WIND SIGNALS (TCWS) IN EFFECT
Signal No. 3 was raised over these areas:
- Batanes
- the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Camiguin Is., Calayan Is.,)
- and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana)
Signal No. 2 was hoisted in the following areas:
- the rest of Babuyan Islands
- the rest of mainland Cagayan
- the northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Santa Maria, Quezon, San Mariano, Naguilian, Dinapigue, Delfin Albano, San Pablo, Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, Tumauini, Cabagan, Palanan, Quirino, Divilacan, Gamu, Mallig, Maconacon, Burgos, City of Cauayan, San Guillermo, Angadanan, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Roxas, Aurora, San Manuel)
- 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.
Signal No. 1 is up in the following areas:
- 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
- the northeastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Paniqui, Moncada, Anao, San Manuel, Pura, Ramos, Victoria, Gerona, Santa Ignacia, City of Tarlac, La Paz)
- the northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel)
- the northern portion of Quezon (Infanta, General Nakar) including Polillo Islands
- Camarines Norte
- the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan) the northern and eastern portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Gigmoto, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Baras, Caramoran)
Note: Wind Signal No. 4 will be hoisted over Batanes this afternoon in anticipation of potentially destructive typhoon-force winds from Leon. The hoisting of Wind Signal No. 5 is also not ruled out should Leon moves to the left of its forecast track.
TRACK AND INTENSITY OUTLOOK
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| Photo courtesy: DOST-PAGASA |
'Leon' is forecast to move northwestward over the Philippine Sea until it makes landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan tomorrow (October 31) afternoon.
After crossing the landmass of Taiwan, 'Leon' will then turn north northwestward to northeastward over the Taiwan Strait towards the East China Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow evening or Friday early morning (November 1).
A second landfall over mainland China is not ruled out during this period.
'Leon' will be closest to Batanes from late evening today to tomorrow morning. A landfall in Batanes is also not ruled out.
This super typhoon will be near or at peak intensity during its closest point of approach to Batanes. The landfall of 'Leon' over Taiwan will result in a continuous weakening trend for the rest of the forecast period.
TROPICAL CYCLONES
Severe tropical storm Leon is the Philippines' 12th tropical cyclone for 2024. It developed into a tropical storm while outside PAR last Friday, October 25.
On average, there are 20 tropical cyclones that could form or enter the PAR each year. Only half of those are projected to make landfall.
READ: LIST: PAGASA releases Philippine Typhoon names in 2024
— The Summit Express
