MANILA, Philippines — Tropical cyclone Leon has weakened into a typhoon as it passes close to Orchid Island in southern Taiwan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Thursday.
Moving northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), Leon was last spotted 155 kilometers (kms) north of Itbayat, Batanes while packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph, Pagasa said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.
Batanes is now under Signal No. 3 while Babuyan Islands is under Signal No. 2.
Also under Signal No. 3 are mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Bakun and Buguias), Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. The typhoon is expected to further weaken, Pagasa said.
“Significant weakening is expected during its passage over the mountainous region of Taiwan,” it said. Leon was expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility either Thursday night or early Friday morning.
