Weather bureau PAGASA on Thursday warned of violent weather conditions over extreme Northern Luzon as super typhoon Leon passes close to Batanes.

As of 4 a.m., the eye of super typhoon Leon was estimated based on all available data at 100 km East Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.

Packing 195 kph winds and gusts of up to 240 kph, Leon has reached its peak intensity while passing close to Batanes and may weaken into a typhoon over the next 12 hours prior to landfall over Taiwan. Landfall scenario in Batanes is now becoming less likely, PAGASA said.

The weather bureau said there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge within the next 48 hours, with peak heights exceeding 3.0 m above normal tide levels over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

Signal No. 5 up in Batanes as ‘Leon’ moves closer

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 5, indicating typhoon-force winds that are an extreme threat to life and property, is now hoisted over the northern and eastern portions of Batanes (Itbayat, Basco). TCWS No. 4  is hoisted over the rest of Batanes.

TCWS No. 3, indicating storm-force winds, is in effect over the northern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Calayan Is.).

TCWS No. 2 is hoisted over the rest of Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, and the northern portion of Isabela (San Pablo, Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan), Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over the following areas:

Luzon: 

The rest of Isabela, Quirino, the northern and central portions of Nueva Vizcaya (Bayombong, Dupax del Norte, Ambaguio, Bagabag, Villaverde, Kayapa, Santa Fe, Kasibu, Aritao, Bambang, Diadi, Dupax del Sur, Quezon, Solano), Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and the northern and central portions of Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Dilasag)

Wind flow coming towards the circulation of Leon will also bring gusty conditions (strong to gale-force) over the following localities (especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds) outside Wind Signal areas:

Most of Cordillera Administrative Region, 

Quirino, 

Nueva Vizcaya, 

Aurora,

Bataan, 

Metro Manila, 

CALABARZON, 

MIMAROPA, 

Bicol Region, 

Northern Samar 

Most of Western Visayas.

A gale warning is hoisted over the seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon.