The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday evening reported that a tropical depression entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and was named “Opong.”
It marks the country’s 15th tropical cyclone this year, as well as the fifth only in September.
According to the state weather bureau’s 5 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, Opong was last estimated 1,045 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao.
Moving west-southwestward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), it has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gusts of up to 70 kph.
PAGASA said that the tropical depression is less likely to directly affect the weather conditions of the country in the next 36 hours, but the onset of heavy rains due to Opong is possible by Thursday onward.
Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 will be hoisted over Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region as early as Wednesday, while the highest wind signal that may be raised throughout the tropical cyclone’s passage is Signal No. 3.
Opong is forecast to move generally southwestward in the next 24 hours before turning westward to west-northwestward while approaching the Eastern Visayas to Southern Luzon area. It may pass close or make landfall over northern Samar by early Friday morning and is expected to cross the southern Luzon area until Friday evening or early Saturday morning.
The tropical depression will continue to intensify while over the Philippine Sea and may reach severe tropical storm category by Thursday afternoon, with further intensification not yet ruled out.
Opong and Super Typhoon “Nando” (international name: Ragasa) will both enhance the southwest monsoon and possible easterlies to bring strong to gale-force gusts.
Signal No. 1 due to Nando remains hoisted over the following Luzon areas: Batanes, Cagayan, the northern portion of Isabela (San Manuel, Roxas, Mallig, Quezon, Santa Maria, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Delfin Albano, Quirino, Tumauini, San Pablo, Maconacon), Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and the northwestern portion of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Anda, Agno, Dasol, Sual, Burgos, City of Alaminos, Bani, Mabini).
