Storm Leon may exit Philippines today

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Leon continued to gather strength as it moved away from the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday.

The storm – packing winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph – was spotted 405 kilometers west-northwest of Coron, Palawan as of 3 p.m.

It is expected to exit the country this morning and move west toward Vietnam, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

No tropical cyclone wind signal was raised as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

However, intermittent gusty winds were expected over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) and Western Visayas due to the southwest monsoon, which was enhanced by Leon.

The southwest monsoon will continue to bring scattered to widespread rains and thunderstorms over Mimaropa as well as the provinces of Aklan, Antique and Iloilo until today, according to weather forecaster Chris Perez.

Cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms will also persist over Bicol, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Mindanao and the rest of the Visayas as well as in the provinces of Benguet, La Union, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan and Quirino.

The rest of Luzon will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains due to thunderstorms.

Most parts of the country can expect improving weather conditions this weekend, Perez said.