“Leon” is expected to weaken into a typhoon today even if parts of Batanes have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5, the the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Thursday morning.

The super typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph, and was located 100 km. east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.

The weather bureau added that strong winds and heavy rains continue across Northern Luzon as Super Typhoon Leon (international name Kong-rey) passes close to Batanes.

However, PAGASA said that the possibility of Leon making landfall over Batanes is now less likely.

Local disaster response bodies in Batanes said the towns of Uyugan, Sabtang and Mahatao are experiencing strong winds and heavy rains on Thursday morning.

Heavy rainfall over Batanes and Babuyan Group of Islands could result in flooding and landslide in flood-prone areas.

PAGASA added that 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.

Most areas in Northern Luzon are forecast to experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

Strong to typhoon-force winds will prevail over the northern and eastern portions of Batanes (Itbayat, Basco) where 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.) and 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.

Gale warning is hoisted over the seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, while sea travel is risky all types or tonnage of vessels, the weather bureau added.

(IMAGE FROM PAGASA)