MANILA — Typhoon Ompong (international name “Mangkhut”) continues to maintain strength as it moves inland toward northern Luzon on Friday.
In its 8 a.m. severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has upgraded tropical cyclone warning signals in areas along its track.
“Ompong”, last observed at 605 kilometers east of Baler, Quezon at 7 a.m., is packing winds at 205 kph, gustiness of 255 kph and moving toward northern Luzon at 20 kph. It will make landfall in Cagayan-Isabela area on Saturday (Sept. 15).
PAGASA hoisted tropical cyclone warning signal number 3 over Isabela, Northern Aurora and Cagayan. Under TCWS 3, winds of greater than 100 kph up to 185 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours.
Meanwhile, signal number 2 was raised in these areas:
- Batanes
- Babuyan Group of Islands
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- La Union
- Benguet
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Quirino
- Pangasinan
- Nueva Ecija
- rest of Aurora
- Tarlac
- Northern Zambales
Under TCWS 2, winds of greater than 60 kph and up to 100 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours.
Signal number 1 was also hoisted over the following areas:
- Pampanga
- Bataan
- rest of Zambales
- Bulacan
- Rizal
- Metro Manila
- Cavite
- Batangas
- Laguna
- Quezon including Polillo Island
- Northern Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island
- Northern Oriental Mindoro
- Masbate
- Marinduque
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Burias
- Ticao Island
Under TCWS 1, winds of 30-60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon enhanced by the typhoon will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over Visayas while scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rains over Palawan, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Caraga. (PNA)
