By Brian Campued
Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name: Bualoi) is forecast to reintensify into a typhoon in the next 12 hours as it crosses the West Philippine Sea starting Friday night, the state weather bureau said.
As of 4:00 p.m. today, Opong was located over the coastal waters of Santa Cruz, Occidental Mindoro. It is moving west-northwestward over Mindoro Strait at 35 kph and packs maximum sustained winds of 110 kph and gustiness of up to 150 kph.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Opong made its sixth landfall over Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro at 11:30 a.m. It first made landfall over San Policarpio, Eastern Samar on Thursday night and made four other landfalls in Palanas and Milagros in Masbate, and in San Fernando and Alcantara in Romblon on Friday morning.
“Malaking factor yung kaniyang westward movement doon sa high pressure area na nandoon sa may north Philippine Sea, dahilan para maiwasan ng bagyo yung high pressure area na iyon at mas bumaba pa yung track kumpara doon sa ating inaasahan two to three days ago,” PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said in a public briefing.
“So na-spare sa malalakas na hangin at malakas na ulan itong malaking bahagi ng Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, at hilagang bahagi ng [Bicol],” he added.
Based on the track forecast, Opong may exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) Saturday afternoon, Sept. 27.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 remains hoisted over Occidental Mindoro and Calamian Islands, where storm-force winds that pose moderate to significant threat to life and property will likely be felt in the next 18 hours or less.
TCWS No. 2 is also raised over the southern portion of Cavite (Magallanes, Mendez, Ternate, Amadeo, Naic, Maragondon, Alfonso, Tagaytay City, Trece Martires City, General Emilio Aguinaldo, Indang, Silang), Batangas, Marinduque, the western portion of Romblon (San Jose, Odiongan, San Andres, Calatrava, San Agustin, Alcantara, Santa Fe, Santa Maria, Concepcion, Looc, Ferrol, Banton, Corcuera), Cuyo Islands, the extreme northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Araceli), and Caluya Islands.
Gale-force winds in areas under TCWS No. 2 are expected in the next 24 hours or less, and may cause minor to moderate threat to life and property.
Strong winds, on the hand, are forecast in the next 36 hours or less in areas under TCWS No. 1:
- Pangasinan
- Southern portion of Aurora (Dingalan, Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis)
- Nueva Ecija
- Tarlac
- Zambales
- Bataan
- Pampanga
- Bulacan
- Metro Manila
- Rizal
- Rest of Cavite
- Laguna
- Quezon
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Masbate
- Rest of Romblon
- Northern portion of mainland Palawan (Dumaran, San Vicente, Roxas)
- Aklan
- Antique
- Capiz
- Iloilo
- Guimaras
- Northern portion of Negros Occidental (City of Talisay, Bacolod City, Bago City, Murcia, Valladolid, Pulupandan, La Carlota City, San Enrique, Pontevedra, City of Escalante, Cadiz City, Sagay City, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona, Silay City, Hinigaran)
- Bantayan Islands
The rest of Luzon and Visayas as well as Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Caraga Region, and Davao Region, will also experience strong to gale-force gusts due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Opong.
In terms of rainfall, Opong will bring heavy to intense rains over Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan, and Antique until Saturday afternoon; while moderate to heavy rains are forecast over Metro Manila, Rizal, Bataan, Cavite, Aurora, Isabela, Marinduque, Quezon, Laguna, Batangas, and Aklan.
“Hanggang 200 milimeters o yung ganoong karaming ulan posibleng magdulot ng mga pagbaha sa maraming lugar at pagguho ng lupa,” Estareja said.
The enhanced habagat will also dump moderate to heavy rains in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Iloilo, Capiz, and Guimaras during the same period.
Meanwhile, Estareja also warned against sea travel in Batangas, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, the southern coast of Quezon, and the northern coast of Palawan including Cuyo and Calamian Islands as a gale warning is in effect. Up to very rough, high, or very high sea conditions are likely over the said seaboards tonight.
“Sa malayong bahagi ng karagatan malayo sa pampang, posibleng hangang 11 meters—imagine po yan nasa tatlong palapag na mahigit na gusali na mga pag-alon ang aasahan,” he stressed.
Gale warning is also up over the seaboards of Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, the northern coast of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, the northern coast of Camarines Sur, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Aklan, Capiz, and Antique.
A storm surge warning is likewise raised over the western coast of Aklan, northern coast of Antique, Batangas, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Calamian Islands, and Romblon.
Residents in coastal communities in the said provinces are advised to stay away from the coast or beach, cancel all marine activities, and move to higher grounds as there is a moderate to high risk of storm surge within 24 hours, with peak heights reaching as high as 3 meters.
“Posible rin po ang isa hanggang dalawang metrong mga daluyong dito sa Aklan, natitirang bahagi ng Antique, maging sa may Batangas and Bataan, Cavite, Masbate, Metro Manila, dito rin po sa ilang bahagi pa ng northern Palawan, southern coast of Quezon, at timog na baybayin ng Pampanga at Bulacan,” Estareja said.
“Laging makipag-coordinate sa local government units for possible evacuation kung kayo po ay nakatira sa mga coastal areas,” he added.
-avds
