By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name: Bualoi) maintained its strength as it continued to move over the Philippine Sea, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration’s (PAGASA) 5:00 p.m. bulletin.
Opong was last located 195 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h and gustiness of up to 135 km/h, as it moves westward at 15 km/h.
Due to Opong’s closer proximity to the Philippine landmass, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 has already been hoisted in the following areas:
- Sorsogon
- Northern portion of Masbate (Uson, Dimasalang, City of Masbate, Mobo, Palanas, Baleno, Aroroy), including Ticao and Burias Islands
- Northern Samar
- Northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Can-Avid)
- Northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, San Jose de Buan)
TCWS No. 2
- Eastern portion of Batangas (Padre Garcia, Ibaan, Rosario, Taysan, Lobo, San Juan, Batangas City)
- Southern portion of Quezon (Pitogo, San Andres, Buenavista, Lucena City, San Francisco, Calauag, Pagbilao, Tiaong, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Guinayangan, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, San Antonio, Alabat, Candelaria, Lucban, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Sariaya, City of Tayabas, Macalelon, Mauban, Dolores, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, San Narciso, Tagkawayan)
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Rest of Masbate
- Marinduque
- Romblon
- Oriental Mindoro
- Central portion of Eastern Samar (Taft, Sulat, San Julian, City of Borongan, Maydolong),
- Central portion of Samar (San Jorge, San Sebastian, Villareal, Zumarraga, Pinabacdao, Almagro, Talalora, Jiabong, Pagsanghan, City of Catbalogan, Motiong, Santo Niño, Tagapul-An, Tarangnan, Calbiga, Daram, Paranas, Hinabangan, Santa Margarita, Gandara)
- Biliran
- Northwestern portion of Leyte (Calubian)
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
- Rest of Batangas
- Laguna
- Rest of Quezon
- Occidental Mindoro
- Palawan (Cuyo Islands and Calamian Islands)
- Rest of Eastern Samar
- Rest of Samar
- Rest of 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, Estancia, 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
The state weather bureau, meanwhile, issued a gale warning over the eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas, noting risky travel on all types of sea vessels over the following coastal waters:
- Up to 11.0 m: The seaboards of Catanduanes; the eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon; the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar
- Up to 6.0 m: The northern and eastern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur
- Up to 5.0 m: The seaboards of Quezon and Marinduque; the remaining seaboards of Bicol Region, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar
- Up to 4.5 m: The seaboards of Aurora, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Romblon, Samar, and Biliran; the western seaboard of Zambales, Bataan, and Cavite; the northern seaboards of Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, and Leyte
- Up to 4.0 m: The seaboards of Isabela, Calamian Islands, Cuyo Islands, and Bucas Grande Island; the eastern seaboards of Dinagat and Siargao Islands
- Up to 3.5 m: The eastern seaboards of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Metro Manila; the remaining seaboards or Cavite, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao Island
PAGASA noted that STS Opong may reach typhoon category before making landfall over Northern Samar or the northern portion of Eastern Samar on Friday morning, before heading towards Bicol Region to make another landfall in the vicinity of Sorsogon.
As it traverses provinces in the Bicol Region, southern Calabarzon and northern Mimaropa, Opong will weaken before re-intensifying once the weather system emerges over the West Philippine Sea.
av
