Tropical Cyclone Opong has weakened into a severe tropical storm, but forecasters warned that it remains a dangerous system as it continues to barrel through Luzon and the Visayas.
In its 5:00AM advisory on Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Opong was last located over Palanas, Masbate. It now carries maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, with gusts reaching up to 150 kph.
WIND SIGNALS RAISED
Signal No. 3: Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Albay, Marinduque, Romblon, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Batangas, and parts of Camarines Sur, Quezon, Laguna, Samar, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and Leyte.
Signal No. 2: Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Cavite, Rizal, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, southern Zambales, Calamian Islands, and large swaths of Eastern and Western Visayas including northern Cebu.
Signal No. 1: Portions of Central and Northern Luzon, Palawan, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte including Siargao, and parts of Central Visayas.
SEVERE IMPACTS EXPECTED
PAGASA said Opong will trigger life-threatening storm surges of more than three meters in low-lying and coastal areas within the next 36 hours. At risk are communities in Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Bicol Region, Samar provinces, Biliran, Leyte, Cebu, and parts of Western Visayas.
A gale warning is also in effect over the seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and the western seaboard of Central Luzon. Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon or habagat will continue to bring gusty winds and scattered rains across Ilocos, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Palawan, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Caraga, and Davao Region.
FORECAST PATH
PAGASA projects Opong to track across Masbate, Sibuyan Sea, southern Calabarzon, and northern Mimaropa before exiting into the West Philippine Sea late Friday or Saturday.