Signal No. 4 up over 5 areas as Ompong heads toward Ilocos Norte

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 4 remained hoisted over Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, and Babuyan Group of Islands on Saturday morning as Typhoon Ompong (international name: Mangkhut) continued on its path toward Ilocos Norte.

In its 8 a.m. severe weather bulletin, PAGASA said Ompong slightly weakened after it made landfall over Baggao, Cagayan at 1:40 a.m.

Areas under TCWS No. 4 are experiencing winds of 171-220 kph up to the next 12 hours. In the open sea in these areas, wave heights may reach more than 14 meters tall.

TCWS No. 3 meanwhile has been raised over Cagayan, Batanes, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mountain Province, Benguet, Ifugao, and Northern Isabela. Wave height in the open sea in these areas will also be more than 14 meters tall.

These areas are experiencing winds of 121-170 kph until the next 18 hours.

Ompong is likewise felt in the following areas where TCWS No. 2 has been hoisted: Southern Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Zambales, Quirino, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Northern Quezon including Polillo Island. The open sea will have waves from 4.1 to 14 meters tall in these areas.

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 is up over Bataan, Rizal, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, the rest of Quezon, and Lubang Island. Waves in the open sea in these areas will range from 1.25 to 4 meters tall.

PAGASA said storm surge may possibly reach up to 6 meters in Ilocos Norte, and up to 2 meters in Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.

Fishermen and those with small seacraft were advised not to go out to sea in areas where there are TCWS raised, and also over the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas, and northern and western seaboards of Mindanao.

As of 7 a.m., Ompong's eye was located in the vicinity of Kabugao, Apayao.

The typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 305 kph.

It is moving west at 30 kph.

As of Sunday morning, Ompong is forecast to be located 640 kilometers west of Basco, Batanes outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Habagat

Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, ARMM, Mimaropa, and the Bicol Region will have occasional moderate to heavy rains due to the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

Eastern and Central Visayas, meanwhile, will have scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rains also due to the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat). —KG, GMA News