9 areas under Signal No. 2 as Opong maintains strength

Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name Bualoi) maintained its strength Thursday morning while over the Philippine Sea, state weather bureau PAGASA said. 

In its tropical cyclone bulletin issued at 8 a.m., PAGASA said the center of Opong was estimated at 365 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar. It added strong to storm-force winds extend outwards up to 450 km from the center.

Opong is packing maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 135 km/h, and central pressure of 980 hPa. It is moving west northwestward at 20 km/h.

Signal No. 2 is hoisted over the following areas:

• the eastern and southern portions of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Presentacion, Goa, Tigaon, San Jose, Sagñay, Ocampo, Iriga City, Buhi, Nabua, Bato, Balatan, Baao, Bula, Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao, Naga City, Pili, Minalabac, San Fernando, Milaor, Gainza, Canaman, Camaligan),
• Catanduanes, 
• Albay, 
• Sorsogon,
• the eastern portion of Masbate (Aroroy, Baleno, City of Masbate, Mobo, Uson, Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz) including Ticao Burias Islands,
• Northern Samar, 
• the northern and central portions of Eastern Samar (Can-Avid, Maslog, San Policarpo, Taft, Dolores, Jipapad, Oras, Arteche, Sulat, San Julian), 
• the 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), and 
• the northern portion of Biliran (Almeria, Kawayan, Maripipi, Culaba)

Meanwhile, the following areas are under Signal No. 1:

• the rest of Masbate, 
• the rest of Camarines Sur, 
• Camarines Norte, 
• Marinduque, 
• Romblon, 
• Oriental Mindoro, 
• Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, 
• Quezon including Polillo Islands, 
• Rizal, 
• Laguna, 
• Batangas, 
• Cavite, 
• Aurora, 
• Metro Manila, 
• Bulacan, 
• Nueva Ecija, 
• Tarlac, 
• Pampanga, 
• Zambales, 
• Bataan, 
• the 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, 
• the southwestern portion of Mountain Province (Bauko, Sabangan, Tadian), 
• Benguet, 
• the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sugpon, Alilem), 
• La Union, 
• Pangasinan
• the rest of Eastern Samar and the rest of Samar, 
• the rest of Biliran, 
• Leyte, 
• Southern Leyte, 
• the northern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, Tabogon, San Remigio, Borbon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Catmon, Tuburan, Carmen, Danao City, Asturias, Compostela) including Camotes Island and Bantayan Island, 
• the 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), 
• the 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, 
• the northern and central portions of Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi, Tibiao, Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-An) including Caluya and Calamian Islands
• Siargao Island, 
• Bucas Grande Islands, and 
• Dinagat Islands

Storm surge

PAGASA said there is a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights reaching 1 meter to 3 meters within 36 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of  Aurora, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran and Leyte.

Affected residents are advised to stay away from the coast or beach and cancel all marine activities.

Track

The state weather bureau said Opong will continue moving west northwestward while approaching Eastern Visayas – Southern Luzon area. It may pass close to Northern Samar or may make landfall over Bicol Region by Friday morning or early afternoon and cross Southern Luzon throughout Friday. 

Opong is expected to emerge over the West Philippine Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday afternoon or evening.

PAGASA said Opong will continue to intensify while over the Philippine Sea and may reach typhoon category before making landfall over Bicol Region.

It will then weaken as it crosses the archipelago, although it will likely remain as a typhoon or severe tropical storm during the passage. Re-intensification is highly likely once Opong emerges over the West Philippine Sea.—AOL, GMA Integrated News