Ompong continues on to China; all cyclone warning signals lowered

With Typhoon Ompong (international name Mangkhut) making its way towards southern China and thus further away from the Philippine Area of Responsibility, weather service PAGASA lowered all tropical cyclone warning signals in country on Sunday morning.

At 4 a.m., Ompong was 480 kilometers west-northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, with 145 kilometer per hour winds and which could gust up to 180 kph.

Ompong was heading west-northwest at 25 kph and should be 1,215 kms west of Basco, Batanes by Monday morning.

Neverthless, Ompong was still expected to enhance the southwest monsoon, and occasional gusty winds and scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rain could still be expected over the Western Visayas, Mimaropa Region, Ilocos Region, Batangas, Bataan, and Zambales.

Furthermore, sea-travel over the northern and western seaboards of Luzon remained unsafe for fisherfolk and small seacraft.

Ompong exited the PAR 9 p.m. on Saturday. — DVM, GMA News