Severe Tropical Storm Leon as of 10:00 a.m. on October 28, 2024. Handout/DOST-PAGASAMANILA -- Twelve provinces in Luzon are under Wind Signal No. 1 after "Leon" intensified into a severe tropical storm, the state weather bureau said on Monday.

As of 10:00 a.m., the center of Leon was estimated based on all available data at 735 km east of Casiguran, Aurora or 780 km east of Echague, Isabela.

It is packing maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph, and is moving westward at 20 kph.

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The following areas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1:

-- Batanes

-- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands

-- Isabela

-- Ilocos Norte

-- Abra

-- Apayao

-- Kalinga

-- the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Natonin, Paracelis

-- the eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista)

-- the eastern portion of Quirino (Maddela)

-- the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan)

-- and the northern portion of Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto)

PAGASA said a gale warning will be hoisted over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon on Monday afternoon.

The trough or extension and rainbands of Leon may bring moderate up to torrential rains over parts of Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas and Negros Region through Thursday afternoon.

Flooding and landslides are expected.

The track and intensity forecast of Severe Tropical Storm Leon as of 11:00 a.m. on October 28, 2024. Handout/DOST-PAGASA

According to PAGASA, Leon is expected to "rapidly intensify throughout its passage over the Philippine sea." It may reach typhoon category within 24 hours, and may reach super typhoon category during its period of closest approach to Batanes.

Leon is forecast to move west northwestward on Monday until Tuesday morning, then turn northwestward until it makes landfall along the eastern coast of Taiwan on Thursday evening or early morning on Friday.

After crossing the landmass of Taiwan, Leon will then turn to the northeast towards the East China Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday morning or afternoon.