Tropical Storm “Leon” (international name: Kong-Rey) was still far from Philippine landmass as of Sunday but maintained its strength as it moved westward over the Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its early Sunday bulletin.

There is also a possibility that Leon will develop into a severe tropical storm by Monday.

“Tropical Storm ‘Leon’ was estimated based on all available data at 1,215 km East of Central Luzon (16.4 °N, 133.5 °E) with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gustiness of up to 80 kph. it is moving westward at 20 kph. Southwesterly windflow affecting western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” PAGASA said in its early Sunday bulletin.

The weather bureau has not yet hoisted a any Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS).

However, PAGASA said TCWS No. 1 may be raised over parts of Cagayan Valley and the northeastern portion of Bicol Region by Sunday night.

So far, Leon still has no direct effect to the weather conditions in the country but may affect extreme Northern Luzon depending on how close it will get during its recurvature over the Philippine Sea.

Also, it may also continue to influence the southwesterly windflow recently triggered by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. This may affect the western section of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in the coming days, according to PAGASA.

Ther new storm is forecast to move westward until early Monday morning before turning west northwestward from Monday morning to early Tuesday morning.

PAGASA’s forecast shows Leon will eventually turn northwestward to north northwestward for the rest of the forecast period. It will possibly make landfall over Ryukyu Islands in Okinawa, Japan on Friday morning.

(PHOTO FROM PNA)