Batanes is now under Signal No. 4, as ‘Leon’ gets closer.

MANILA – Super Typhoon Leon is rapidly approaching Batanes, where Signal No. 4 has been started, the weather bureau PAGASA announced on Wednesday afternoon.

PAGASA also said that there is an increased chance of storm surge in Batanes and Cagayan over the next 48 hours. Residents are advised to avoid the coast, cancel any marine activities, and remain up to date on weather forecasts.

Meanwhile, the eastern part of the Babuyan Islands and northeastern mainland Cagayan are under Signal No. 3.

Many other places in Northern Luzon remain under Signal No. 2 as Leon moves northwestward at 15 km/h.

As of 1 p.m. today, Leon was 310 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan, with steady winds of 185 kilometers per hour in the center and winds of up to 230 kilometers per hour.

Experts are not ruling out a landfall scenario in Batangas, which could lead to the activation of Wind Signal No. 5 in the area. It will be closest to the province from late this evening to tomorrow morning, October 31.

Leon is forecast to make landfall tomorrow off the eastern coast of Taiwan and leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) the same day or early Friday morning.