More areas under Signal No. 3 due to approaching ‘Opong’
Metro Manila, Philippines - Some areas in Bicol Region and Samar Island have been placed under Signal No. 3 as Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name: Bualoi) continues to approach land on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 25.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said winds in areas under Signal No. 3 could pose moderate to significant impacts to structures, and even disrupt electrical power and communication services.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA warned that “Opong” may hit Northern Samar or the northern portion of Eastern Samar early Friday morning, possibly as a typhoon.
PAGASA placed areas under these storm signals:
Signal No. 3
Luzon: Sorsogon and the northern portion of Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands.
Visayas: Northern Samar, the northern portion of Eastern Samar, and the northern portion of Samar.
Signal No. 2
Luzon: Eastern portion of Batangas, the southern portion of Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, the rest of Masbate, Marinduque, Romblon, and Oriental Mindoro
Visayas: Central portion of Eastern Samar, the central portion of Samar, Biliran, and the northwestern portion of Leyte
Signal No. 1
Luzon: Central and southern portions of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, the southwestern portion of Mountain Province, Benguet, the southern portion of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, the rest of Batangas, Laguna, the rest of Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Cuyo Islands, and Calamian Islands
Visayas: Rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, the rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northern portion of Cebu including Camotes and Bantayan Islands, the northern portion of Negros Occidental, the northern portion of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and the northern portion of Antique
Mindanao: Siargao Island, Bucas Grande Islands, and Dinagat Islands
Heavy rainfall outlook
Due to “Opong,” intense to torrential rains may be dumped over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Romblon on Thursday.
Heavy to intense rains may be experienced over Quezon, Batangas, Camarines
Norte, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Aklan, Capiz, and Leyte.
Moderate to heavy rains may be felt over Aurora, Laguna, Cavite, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte.
The southwest monsoon, or habagat, will bring up to intense rains over Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental Occidental, while up to heavy rains over Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and Negros Oriental.
The enhanced habagat will also bring strong to gale-force gusts across the country.
PAGASA warned coastal areas of moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge reaching three meters within 36 hours.
Track of ‘Opong’
“Opong” is forecast to make landfall over Northern Samar or the northern portion of Eastern Samar on early Friday morning.
The latest forecast suggests it will then make another landfall within Sorsogon before crossing Bicol Region, southern Calabarzon, and northern Mimaropa.
“Opong” will reach the West Philippine Sea early Saturday morning.
PAGASA said “Opong” was seen 225 kilometers (km) east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.
