MANILA (AP) – Severe Tropical Storm Leon (international name Kong-Rey) is rapidly intensifying and could reach typhoon strength within the next 12 hours, the Philippine weather bureau warned on Tuesday. The storm’s powerful winds and heavy rains are expected to batter the northern Philippines, including the vulnerable Batanes islands, in the coming days.
As of 4 a.m. local time, Leon was located 645 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City in the Cagayan province, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center and gusts up to 135 km/h. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Leon could further strengthen into a super typhoon during its closest approach to the Batanes islands.
“There is an increasing chance that Leon will reach the super typhoon category,” PAGASA said, adding that a direct landfall over Batanes has not been ruled out. The weather agency has hoisted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over several provinces in the north, warning of strong winds that could damage structures and down power lines.
In addition to the powerful winds, Leon is forecast to bring heavy rainfall that could trigger flooding and landslides across a wide swath of the northern Philippines. Gale warnings have been issued for the seaboards of Northern Luzon as well as the eastern coasts of Central and Southern Luzon, advising all vessels to avoid venturing out.
Authorities have advised residents in high-risk areas to take precautionary measures and heed any evacuation orders from local officials. The storm is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday or Friday, but its impacts will likely linger for several days.
With Leon’s rapid intensification, the northern Philippines is bracing for what could be the strongest typhoon to hit the region so far this year. The impending danger underscores the need for continued disaster preparedness and resilience efforts in the face of the increasing frequency and severity of these weather events.