Severe Tropical Storm Leon intensifies into typhoon, may reach super typhoon strength

Severe Tropical Storm Leon has intensified into a typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

The typhoon was last spotted 505 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, moving west-northwestward at 10 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 has been raised over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, the northern and eastern portions of Isabela, Apayao, northern portion of Kalinga, northern portion of Abra, and Ilocos Norte.

Leon is expected to continue rapidly intensifying and may reach super typhoon strength before making landfall along Taiwan's eastern coast on Thursday afternoon or evening.

Landfall over Batanes has not been ruled out, with the typhoon expected to be closest to the province between early morning and noon of Thursday.

The typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday evening or Friday early morning.