Read Morehttps://www.manilatimes.net
MANILA, Philippines — The state-run weather agency said on Wednesday that Signal No. 5 was still likely over Batanes as Super Typhoon “Leon” moved closer and landfall was possible.
As of posting time, Signal No. 4 has been raised over Batanes while Signal No. 3 was up over the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Island, Camiguin Island and Calayan Island) and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana), the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5 p.m. bulletin.
Pagasa said Signal No. 2 was up over 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 and San Manuel), Apayao, Kalinga, the northern and eastern portions of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay and Daguioman), the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis) and Ilocos Norte.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 is raised 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, the northeastern portion of Tarlac (Camiling, San Clemente, Paniqui, Moncada, Anao, San Manuel, Pura, Ramos, Victoria, Gerona, Santa Ignacia, City of Tarlac and La Paz), the northern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad and San Miguel), the northern portion of Quezon (Infanta and General Nakar) including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the northern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena and Caramoan), and the northern and eastern portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Gigmoto, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Baras and Caramoran), also in Luzon.
The state weather bureau said the super typhoon was last spotted some 215 kilometers east-southeast of Basco, Batanes while moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 185kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230kph.
After crossing the landmass of Taiwan, the weather agency said Leon would then turn north-northwestward to northeastward over the Taiwan Strait towards the East China Sea.
Pagasa administrator Nathaniel Servando said Leon would be closest to Batanes from late Wednesday evening to Thursday morning.
“A landfall in Batanes is also not ruled out,” the Pagasa chief said.
“This super typhoon will be near or at peak intensity during its closest point of approach to Batanes,” he added.
Leon will likely exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Thursday evening or early Friday morning, Pagasa said.
