MANILA, (PIA) — Typhoon Leon and its associated trough are expected to be the primary weather systems affecting the entire archipelago during the “Undas” holiday period, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA Weather Division Officer-in-Charge Christopher Perez said from Wednesday to Thursday (October 30-31), Leon will bring stormy conditions to Cagayan Valley and Apayao, while the Ilocos region, the remainder of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Aurora, Quezon, and parts of the Bicol region and Samar will experience rains accompanied by gusty winds.
Perez said cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rains are anticipated over Antique, Occidental Mindoro, and Cavite, raising concerns about flooding and landslides in low-lying and mountainous areas due to prolonged rainfall.
He said Metro Manila, the rest of Bicol Region, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region (NIR), and the Zamboanga Peninsula are forecasted to have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms.
The remaining areas of the country will see partly cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, primarily in the afternoons or evenings, he added.
On Friday (November 1), Occidental Mindoro will continue to face scattered to widespread rains, while Metro Manila, the Ilocos region, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, NIR, Apayao, Babuyan Islands, and Batanes will experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms. The rest of the country is expected to remain partly cloudy with possible isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.
By Saturday (November 2), Occidental Mindoro and Palawan will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rains and isolated thunderstorms, while Metro Manila and other areas will remain partly cloudy, aside from localized rainshowers or thunderstorms.
Perez warned that strong to typhoon-force winds from the northwest to southwest may affect Northern Luzon and the eastern section of Central Luzon.
Additionally, moderate to strong westerly to southwesterly winds are expected in the western and eastern sections of the country, with light to moderate winds over the rest of the archipelago.
Typhoon Leon has intensified while moving over the waters east of Cagayan. As of the latest bulletin issued at 11:00 a.m., the typhoon’s center was located approximately 555 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
The tropical cyclone is packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour, with gusts reaching up to 160 kilometers per hour and a central pressure of 965 hPa. Leon is currently moving west-northwest at a speed of 10 kilometers per hour, with strong to typhoon-force winds extending outwards up to 640 kilometers from its center.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals in Effect
PAGASA has issued Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 for several areas, indicating the threat of gale-force winds. This includes:
- Luzon: Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Gattaran, Baggao, Lal-Lo, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Pe), as well as the northeastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Palanan, Maconacon).
Residents in these areas can expect wind speeds ranging from 62 to 88 kilometers per hour, with a warning lead time of 24 hours. The potential impacts of these winds are considered to pose a minor to moderate threat to life and property.
Additionally, TCWS No. 1 has been issued for several other regions in Luzon, including the remainder of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Aurora, and parts of Quezon, Camarines Norte, and others. These areas may experience wind speeds of 39 to 61 kilometers per hour, with a warning lead time of 36 hours, and minimal to minor threats to life and property.
Additionally, there is a growing likelihood that Leon may escalate to super typhoon status as it approaches Batanes.
PAGASA will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates should significant changes in the weather pattern occur.
Authorities, meanwhile, urge residents to continue monitoring updates and to follow any instructions from local officials as the situation develops.
For more information, contact the Weather Division at 8284-0800 loc. 4801, or visit www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph. (JCO/PIA-NCR)