By Brian Campued
Gale-force winds and moderate up to torrential rains are forecast over the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas starting Thursday, as Severe Tropical Storm Opong maintains strength over the Philippine Sea.
In its 11:00 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Opong was monitored 335 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 110 kph and gustiness of up to 135 kph.
It is moving west-northwestward towards Eastern Visayas – Southern Luzon area at 25 kph.
“Bagaman malayo pa ‘yung tinatayang sentro ng bagyong si Opong, makikita nga po natin ‘yung makapal na ulap ay umaabot na ilang bahagi ng southern Luzon, sa ilang bahagi ng Visayas at ng Mindanao,” PAGASA Assistant Weather Services Chief Chris Perez said in a public briefing.
Due to Opong’s threat, PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 in the following areas:
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Northern portion of Masbate (Aroroy, Baleno, City of Masbate, Mobo,Uson, Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz) including Ticao and Burias Islands
- Northern Samar
- Northern and central portions of Eastern Samar (Can-Avid, Maslog, San Policarpo, Taft, Dolores, Jipapad, Oras, Arteche, Sulat, San Julian)
- Northern and central portions of Samar (San Jorge, San Sebastian, 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, Hinabangan)
- Northern portion of Biliran (Almeria, Kawayan, Maripipi, Culaba)
Areas under TCWS No. 2 will likely experience gale-force winds that may cause minor to moderate threat to life and property in the next 24 hours or less.
Strong winds that may cause minimal to minor threat to life and property in the next 36 hours or less are likewise forecast in the following locales under TCWS No. 1:
- 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
- Southwestern portion of Mountain Province (Bauko, Sabangan, Tadian)
- Benguet
- Southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon, Alilem)
- La Union
- Pangasinan
- Aurora
- Nueva Ecija
- Tarlac
- Zambales
- Bataan
- Pampanga
- Bulacan
- Metro Manila
- Rizal
- Cavite
- Batangas
- Laguna
- Quezon
- Romblon
- Marinduque
- Occidental Mindoro
- Oriental Mindoro
- Calamian Islands
- Rest of Masbate
- Rest of Eastern Samar
- Rest of Samar
- Rest of Biliran
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Northern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, Tabogon, San Remigio, Borbon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Catmon, Tuburan, Carmen, Danao City, Asturias, Compostela) including Camotes and Bantayan Islands
- Northern portion of Negros Occidental (City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona, Silay City, City of Talisay)
- Northern portion of Iloilo (San Dionisio, Batad, Balasan, Carles, Sara, Concepcion, Ajuy, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Banate, Anilao, San Enrique, City of Passi, Bingawan, Calinog, Lambunao, Dueñas, Dingle)
- Capiz
- Aklan
- Northern portion of Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi, Tibiao, Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-An, Caluya)
- Siargao Island
- Bucas Grande Islands
- Dinagat Islands
Perez emphasized that PAGASA raises Wind Signals ahead of the actual time when a tropical cyclone begins to affect specific areas—giving the public and authorities ample time to prepare for the hazard.
Based on the track forecast, Opong may intensify into a typhoon by Thursday night.
It may pass close to Northern Samar or may make landfall over Bicol Region by Friday, Sept. 26. Perez also warned of a possible landfall scenario over Eastern Samar, Catanduanes, and Camarines Sur due to the Opong’s area of probability.
“Ang pagtawid ng bagyong si Opong, yung sentro nito ay inaasahang tatawirin ang ilang bahagi ng possibly Northern Samar, ilang bahagi ng [Bicol], ng CALABARZON area hanggang sa tuluyang makalagpas ng landmass ng ating bansa,” Perez said.
“Lahat ng areas na binanggit natin na may Wind Signal, direkta man kayong tamaan ng sentro o hindi, basta nasa loob ng periphery ng bagyong si Opong, dapat paghandaan po natin,” he added.
Meanwhile, Opong and the enhanced southwest monsoon (habagat) will bring up to torrential rains over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Sorsogon, and Masbate until Friday noon, Sept. 26; while heavy to intense rains are expected over Quezon, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Romblon, and Leyte.
Moderate to heavy rains are likely in Camarines Norte, Laguna, Batangas, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Aklan, Capiz, Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, and Negros Occidental during the same period.
Between Friday noon to Saturday noon, Sept. 27, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and Batangas will experience torrential rains; while up to intense rains will persist over Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Romblon, and Aklan.
Metro Manila, Rizal, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Aurora, Isabela, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Capiz, and Masbate will likewise experience moderate to heavy rains starting Friday noon.
“Patuloy ang paalala natin sa ating mga kababayan, lalong-lalo na yung naninirahan malapit sa mga flash flood and landslide-prone areas na maging alerto,” Perez stressed.
“Sa ngayon pa lamang po, kahit malayo pa yung bagyo, pinapayuhan na po ang lahat na patuloy nang makipag-ugnayan sa kanilang local government at saka sa kanilang local disaster risk reduction managers para sa continuous disaster preparedness and mitigation measures,” Perez added.
PAGASA also cautioned against sea travel as a gale warning is in effect over the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and Visayas.
Storm surge is also possible within 36 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and Leyte.
-jpv
