MANILA, Philippines — PAGASA has raised Signal No. 1 in 14 areas as Typhoon Ompong (international name: Mangkhut) accelerates while maintaining its strength.
"Ompong" continues to threaten northern Luzon as it moves westward at 30 kph, 10 kph faster than its pace last night. It is expected to make landfall over the northern tip of Cagayan on Saturday morning.
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Placed under Signal No. 1 were:
- Cagayan
- Isabela
- Kalinga
- Mt. Province
- Ifugao
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Quirino, Aurora
- Quezon including Polillo Island
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Catanduanes
- Burias and Ticao Islands Northern Samar
PAGASA warned fisherfolk and those with small seacraft not to venture out over the seaboards of areas under Signal No. 1, the northern seaboard of northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Visayas and of Mindanao.
At 4 a.m today, the eye of the typhoon was located at 855 km east of Virac, Catanduanes. It packs maximum sustained winds of up to 205 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph.
PAGASA late Wednesday said "Ompong" might reach its "peak intensity" of 220 kph maximum sustained winds and 270 kph gustiness which could mean it might not develop into a super typhoon. Under the Philippine weather bureau's categorization, a tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed exceeding 220 kph is classified as a super typhoon.
Forecast position
• 24 hours (Friday morning): 645 km east of Casiguran, Aurora
• 48 hours (Saturday morning):155 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
• 72 hours (Sunday morning): 340 km west-northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte (outside the Philippine area of responsibility)
• 96 hours (Monday morning): 1,080 km west of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)
• 120 hours (Tuesday morning): 1,725 km west of Basco, Batanes (outside PAR)