‘Opong’ weakens into severe tropical storm

By Ma. Cristina Arayata, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Tropical cyclone Opong has weakened into a severe tropical storm, the weather bureau said on Friday.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Opong packs maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

Opong was last tracked in the vicinity of Palanas, Masbate.

Storm-force winds will prevail in areas where Signal No. 3 is hoisted: Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Albay, the western and southern portions of Camarines Sur (Buhi, Iriga City, Bato, Nabua, Balatan, Baao, Bula, Minalabac, San Fernando, Pamplona, Pasacao, Libmanan, Sagñay, Tigaon, Pili, Ocampo, Calabanga, Naga City, Bombon, Canaman, Magarao, Gainza, Milaor, Camaligan, Cabusao, Sipocot, Lupi, Ragay, Del Gallego), the southern portion of Quezon (San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Mulanay, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Guinayangan, Lopez, Macalelon, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Pagbilao, City of Tayabas, Lucban, Sampaloc, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio), Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Batangas, the southern portion of Laguna (Alaminos, San Pablo City, Rizal, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Majayjay, Luisiana), Northern Samar, the northern and central portions of Eastern Samar (Can-Avid, Maslog, City of Borongan, San Policarpo, Taft, Maydolong, Dolores, Jipapad, Oras, Arteche, Balangkayan, Sulat, San Julian), the northern and central portions of Samar (San Jorge, San Sebastian, Santa Rita, Villareal, Zumarraga, Matuguinao, Pinabacdao, Almagro, Calbayog City, Talalora, Jiabong, Pagsanghan, City of Catbalogan, Gandara, Motiong, Santo Niño, Tagapul-An, San Jose de Buan, Santa Margarita, Tarangnan, Calbiga, Daram, Paranas, Basey, Hinabangan), Biliran, and the northern portion of Leyte (Babatngon, San Miguel, Tacloban City, Barugo, Calubian, San Isidro, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara).

Gale-force winds will be experienced in areas under Signal No. 2: Catanduanes, the rest of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, the rest of Quezon, the rest of Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, the southern portion of Zambales (San Marcelino, Subic, Olongapo City, Castillejos, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe), Calamian Islands, rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, 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.

Areas under Signal No. 1 will experience strong winds: 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, the rest of Zambales, Cuyo Islands, the northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli), Southern Leyte, the rest of 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), the central portion of Antique (Tibiao, Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-An, Valderrama), Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island and Bucas Grande Islands.

PAGASA said the southwest monsoon or “habagat” will also bring gale-force gusts across Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Palawan, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Caraga Region, and Davao Region.

Gale warning is in effect over the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas and the western seaboard of Central Luzon.

PAGASA added that there is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding three meters within 36 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Cebu, Aklan, Antique, and Capiz.

Meanwhile, PAGASA forecast Opong to traverse Masbate, Sibuyan Sea, southern Calabarzon, and northern Mimaropa, before emerging over the West Philippine Sea either late Friday or on Saturday.