'Opong' maintains strength, track east of Samar; typhoon category still possible
MANILA, Philippines —Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name: Bualoi) maintained its strength over the Philippine Sea on Thursday morning, September 25, as it inched closer toward Bicol Region, where it may make landfall Friday.
State weather bureau PAGASA said, however, there is still the possibility that the storm could intensify into a typhoon before making landfall, according to its 11 a.m. bulletin.
PAGASA said Opong was packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h and gusts of up to 135 km/h as of 10 a.m. Thursday, and was last spotted 335 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
"Opong will continue to intensify while over the Philippine Sea and may reach typhoon category before making landfall over Bicol Region," PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin. A typhoon requires sustained winds of at least 118 km/h.
However, PAGASA noted that "due to marginally favorable environment, there is a possibility that Opong may remain a severe tropical storm pre-landfall."
The cyclone was last spotted moving west-northwestward at 25 km/h and may pass close to northern Samar or make landfall over Bicol region by Friday morning or early afternoon before crossing southern Luzon throughout the day.
Here are the wind signals raised for the following areas:
Signal No. 2 (24-hour lead time) — Gale-force winds of 62-88 km/h expected
Luzon:
- Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon
- Northern portion of Masbate (Aroroy, Baleno, Masbate City, Mobo, Uson, Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz) including Ticao and Burias Islands
Visayas:
- Northern Samar
- Northern and central portions of Eastern Samar (Can-Avid, Maslog, San Policarpo, Taft, Dolores, Jipapad, Oras, Arteche, Sulat, San Julian)
- Northern and central portions of Samar (San Jorge, San Sebastian, Villareal, Zumarraga, Matuguinao, Pinabacdao, Almagro, Calbayog City, and 12 other municipalities)
- Northern portion of Biliran (Almeria, Kawayan, Maripipi, Culaba)
Signal No. 1 (36-hour lead time) — Strong winds of 39-61 km/h expected
Luzon:
- Central and southern portions of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, portions of Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur
- La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan
- Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon
- Romblon, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Calamian Islands, rest of Masbate
Visayas:
- Rest of Eastern Samar, rest of Samar, rest of Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte
- Northern portions of Cebu, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Antique
- Capiz, Aklan
Mindanao:
- Siargao Island, Bucas Grande Islands, Dinagat Islands
Storm surge threatens coastal areas
PAGASA warned of a "moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge" with peak heights of 1.0 to 3.0 meters within 36 hours over low-lying coastal areas of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and several provinces in Luzon and Visayas.
Sea conditions remain dangerous, with waves reaching up to 11 meters along the seaboards of Catanduanes and the eastern coasts of Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar. PAGASA advised all vessels in these areas to remain in port or seek shelter immediately.
The state weather bureau said Opong is expected to weaken as it crosses the archipelago but will likely re-intensify once it emerges over the West Philippine Sea. The storm is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday afternoon or evening.
Southwest monsoon brings additional threats
The Southwest Monsoon, enhanced by both Opong and Tropical Storm Nando, will bring strong to gale-force winds over parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao through Saturday, even in areas not under tropical cyclone wind signals.
PAGASA warned that the highest wind signal that may be raised during Opong's passage is Signal No. 4, which indicates winds of 118 to 184 km/h and poses "very high to near total threat to life and property."
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