Leon (international name Kong-Rey) is now a super typhoon, as it further intensified and threatened extreme northern Luzon, forcing the weather bureau to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 in more areas.

Also, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said TCWS No. 4 may be hoisted over Batanes this afternoon as the weather bureau sees potentially destructive typhoon-force winds. Furthermore, the hoisting of TCWS No. 5 is not ruled out by PAGASA.

According to the 11am bulletin of PAGASA, Leon now has maximum sustained winds of 185 km per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.

It was located 350 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan as of 10 am

PAGASA has placed more areas were placed under TCWS No. 3 namely Batanes, the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Camiguin Is., Calayan Is.), and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana). These areas will experience strong to typhoon-force winds.

Gale-force winds will prevail in areas under TCWS no. 2: 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.

Strong winds will prevail in areas under TCWS no. 1 — 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), and the northern and eastern portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Gigmoto, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Baras, Caramoran).

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are forecast in parts of Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique, Aklan, Negros and Iloilo.

(IMAGE FROM PAGASA)