Signal No. 1 up in 3 Luzon provinces due to Tropical Storm Leon

MANILA, Philippines — Signal No. 1 has been raised in Cagayan, Isabela and Catanduanes as Tropical Storm Leon maintained its strength while decelerating over the Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Monday.

Under the storm signal were the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Lal-Lo, Gattaran, Baggao, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga and Peñablanca), the eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Ilagan City, San Pablo, Cabagan, Tumauini, Palanan, San Mariano and Dinapigue), and the northeastern portion of Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban and Viga).

Moving westward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), the center of the eye of Leon was last spotted some 840 kilometers (kms) east of Central Luzon while packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph, Pagasa said.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, the agency said that the outer rain bands of Leon may affect extreme Northern Luzon.

The trough or extension of the tropical storm may also affect areas in Visayas, Mindanao and the western section of Southern Luzon.

Based on its track forecast, Leon may pass closely over Batanes by Wednesday or Thursday.

It was expected to gradually intensify in the next 24 hours and may reach severe tropical storm category by Monday afternoon, Pagasa said.