The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday evening reported that Severe Tropical Storm “Opong” has intensified into a typhoon as it moved closer to Eastern Visayas, prompting the weather bureau to raise the highest tropical cyclone wind signal in most affected areas to no. 4.
According to PAGASA’s 11:00 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, ‘Opong’ was last tracked over the coastal waters of Dolores, Eastern Samar. Moving west-northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), it has maximum sustained winds of 120 kph and gusts of up to 165 kph.
The typhoon is forecast to make landfall over Northern Samar or the northern portion of Eastern Samar on early Friday morning before heading toward the Bicol Region, where it is likely to make another landfall in the vicinity of Sorsogon.
Throughout Friday, Opong will move generally west-northwestward near or over Sibuyan Sea and traverse the mainland and/or island provinces of Bicol Region, southern CALABARZON, and northern MIMAROPA, before emerging over the West Philippine Sea on early Saturday morning.
“It must be emphasized that heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone,” PAGASA said in its advisory.
PAGASA said the tropical cyclone will weaken as it crosses the archipelago, though it will likely remain as a typhoon or severe tropical storm during its passage. Re-intensification is said to be highly likely once Opong emerges over the West Philippine Sea.
The following tropical cyclone wind signals are observed in the affected areas:
SIGNAL NO. 4
Luzon – Sorsogon and the eastern portion of Masbate (Cataingan, Palanas, Dimasalang, Uson, Mobo, City of Masbate, Baleno, Aroroy, Mandaon, Milagros) including Ticao Island.
Visayas – Northern Samar, the northern and central portions of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Maslog, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo, Dolores, Can-Avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, City of Borongan), and the northern and central portions of Samar (Hinabangan, Paranas, Motiong, San Sebastian, Jiabong, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Gandara, Santa Margarita, Pagsanghan, Tarangnan, City of Catbalogan, Santo Niño, Almagro, Tagapul-An)
SIGNAL NO. 3
Luzon – The rest of Masbate including Burias Island, Albay, the western portion of Camarines Sur (Buhi, Iriga City, Bato, Nabua, Balatan, Baao, Bula, Minalabac, San Fernando, Pamplona, Pasacao, Libmanan), the southern portion of Quezon (San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Mulanay, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Guinayangan, Lopez, Macalelon), Marinduque, Romblon and the central and southern portions of Oriental Mindoro (Bulalacao, Bongabong, Bansud, Mansalay, Roxas, Gloria, Pinamalayan, Pola, Socorro, Victoria)
Visayas – The rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, the extreme northern portion of Leyte (Babatngon, San Miguel, Tacloban City, Barugo, Calubian, San Isidro, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara) and Biliran
SIGNAL NO. 2
Luzon – Catanduanes, the rest of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, the central and eastern portions of Quezon (Pitogo, Lucena City, Calauag, Pagbilao, Infanta, Tiaong, Unisan, Plaridel, Quezon, San Antonio, Alabat, Candelaria, Lucban, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Sariaya, City of Tayabas, Mauban, Dolores, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, Tagkawayan), Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Batangas, the rest of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Calamian Islands , Metro Manila, and the southern portion of Bataan (Mariveles, Pilar, Limay, Orion, City of Balanga, Bagac)
Visayas – The eastern portion of Southern Leyte (Libagon, Anahawan, Hinunangan, San Juan, Silago, Saint Bernard, Hinundayan, Liloan, Pintuyan, San Francisco, San Ricardo, Sogod), the northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, Mahaplag, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Mayorga, Julita, Dagami, Inopacan, Jaro, Abuyog, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Javier, Dulag, Alangalang, Hindang, City of Baybay, Burauen, Tabango, Kananga), the northern portion of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, Tabogon, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Borbon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen) including Camotes and Bantayan Islands, the extreme northern portion of Negros Occidental (Toboso, City of Escalante, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona), the northern portion of Iloilo (Estancia, Carles, Balasan, Batad, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Sara, Ajuy, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, San Enrique, City of Passi, Bingawan, Calinog), Capiz, Aklan, and the northwestern portion of Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi) including Caluya Islands
Mindanao – Dinagat Islands, Siargao Islands, and Bucas Grande Islands
SIGNAL NO. 1
Luzon – The central and southern portions of Isabela (Alicia, San Mateo, Aurora, Ramon, Naguilian, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Luna, City of Cauayan, Echague, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, City of Santiago, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Gamu, San Isidro, Cordon, Jones, Burgos, San Mariano, Palanan), Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, the southwestern portion of Mountain Province (Bauko, Sabangan, Tadian), Benguet, the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon, Alilem), La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, the rest of Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, the rest of Quezon, Cuyo Islands, and the northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli)
Visayas – The rest of Southern Leyte, the eastern and central portions of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido, Ubay, Trinidad, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Mabini, San Miguel, Alicia, Candijay, Anda, Guindulman, Pilar, Dagohoy, Danao, Buenavista, Inabanga, Clarin, Sagbayan, Carmen, Sierra Bullones, Duero, Jagna), the central portion of Cebu (Asturias, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cebu City, Balamban, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Toledo City, City of Talisay, Pinamungahan, Minglanilla, City of Naga, San Fernando, Aloguinsan, City of Carcar, Barili), the northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan), the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Silay City, City of Talisay, Bacolod City, Bago City, Murcia, La Castellana, Valladolid, Pulupandan, La Carlota City, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Hinigaran), the central portion of Iloilo (Banate, Anilao, Dueñas, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Lambunao, Janiuay, Badiangan, Pototan, Mina, Zarraga, New Lucena, Cabatuan, Maasin), and the central portion of Antique (Tibiao, Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-An, Valderrama)
Mindanao – The rest of Surigao del Norte
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated. Originally posted with the headline “‘Opong’ approaches Eastern Visayas.'”
