Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name: Bualoi) has crossed the Mindoro Strait while maintaining its strength, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported Friday afternoon.
In its 5PM bulletin, PAGASA said Opong was packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts reaching up to 150 kph.
Signal No. 3 remains hoisted over Occidental Mindoro and the Calamian Islands.
Signal No. 2 is up in parts of Cavite, Batangas, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, the western section of Romblon, Cuyo Islands, northern Palawan including El Nido and Taytay, and Caluya Islands.
Signal No. 1 covers Metro Manila, Pangasinan, portions of Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Bicol, parts of Mimaropa, Western Visayas, northern Negros Occidental, and Bantayan Islands.
PAGASA also issued a gale warning for the seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Northern Luzon, and the western seaboard of the Visayas.
The weather bureau cautioned coastal communities against possible storm surges of one to three meters over low-lying or exposed areas within the next 24 hours, particularly in Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, the Calamian Islands, Masbate, Aklan, and Antique.
Opong is expected to track westward toward the West Philippine Sea by Friday night and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday.