Severe Tropical Storm Opong is set to bring widespread rains, strong winds, and possible storm surges across Luzon and Visayas as it inches closer to Eastern Samar, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Thursday.
As of 4PM, Opong was spotted 195 kilometers east northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 135 kph.
Storm Signals Raised
Signal No. 3: Sorsogon, northern Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Northern Samar, northern Eastern Samar, and northern Samar.
Signal No. 2: Quezon (southern portion), Batangas (eastern portion), Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Biliran, northwestern Leyte, and parts of Samar and Eastern Samar.
Signal No. 1: Metro Manila, Central Luzon, the rest of CALABARZON, portions of Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya, Northern Cebu, Northern Negros Occidental, Aklan, Capiz, Northern Antique, Dinagat Islands, and several other nearby provinces.
Weather Outlook
Stormy conditions are expected in the Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Marinduque, Romblon, and Quezon. Rains with gusty winds will also hit Metro Manila, Central Luzon, the rest of CALABARZON, Cordillera provinces, Mindoro, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Dinagat Islands.
PAGASA warned of moderate to heavy rains that could trigger flash floods and landslides. Gale warnings remain in effect over the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas.
Possible Landfalls and Storm Surge Threat
The storm may make its first landfall in Northern Samar or northern Eastern Samar early Friday, then possibly hit Sorsogon in the Bicol Region later in the day: “Opong could possibly hit the Northern part of Samar and parts of Bicol Region, southern part of Quezon. It is also possible to hit Marinduque, Laguna and Batangas,” PAGASA weather services chief Chris Perez said.
Authorities also cautioned residents of coastal areas in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Bicol Region, and Eastern Visayas of life-threatening storm surges that may reach over three meters high within 36 hours.