The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday placed 10 areas under wind Signal No. 2 due to severe tropical storm “Opong,” which is forecast to make landfall in Bicol region on Friday afternoon.
Areas under Signal No. 2 are Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, northern portion of Masbate (including Ticao and Burias Islands), Northern Samar, northern and central portions of Eastern Samar, northern and central portions of Samar, and the northern portion of Biliran.
Dozens of other areas are under Signal No. 1, which include the central and southern portions of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, southwestern portion of Mountain Province, Benguet, southern portion of Ilocos Sur, La Union and 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 (including Camotes and Bantayan Islands), northern portion of Negros Occidental, northern portion of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, northern portion of Antique, Siargao Island, Bucas Grande Islands, and Dinagat Islands are also under Signal No. 1.
PAGASA said Opong was some 335 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar as of 10 a.m. Thursday.
It is packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph. It is moving west northwestward at 25 kph.
“On the forecast track, it may pass close to Northern Samar or may make landfall over Bicol Region by tomorrow morning or early afternoon and cross Southern Luzon throughout Friday,” PAGASA said.
“Afterwards, Opong will emerge over the West Philippine Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday afternoon or evening,” it added.
The weather bureau said Opong may intensify into a typhoon before landfall.
