Signal No. 3 raised in Luzon, Visayas areas as Opong maintains strength

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 has been hoisted in more areas in Luzon and in the Visayas as Severe Tropical Storm Opong maintained its strength while moving westward of the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau PAGASA said on Thursday afternoon. 

According to the 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the center of Opong was last monitored at 195 kilometers east northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar or 255 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar. 

It has maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kilometers per hour. The severe tropical storm is also moving westward at 15 kilometers per hour. 

Signal No. 3 is hoisted in the following areas: 

Luzon 

• Sorsogon
• the northern portion of Masbate (Uson, Dimasalang, City of Masbate, Mobo, Palanas, Baleno, Aroroy) including Ticao and Burias Islands

Visayas 

• Northern Samar
• the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad, Oras, Dolores, Maslog, Can-Avid)
• the northern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, San Jose de Buan)

Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 is raised in the following: 

Luzon

• The eastern portion of Batangas (Padre Garcia, Ibaan, Rosario, Taysan, Lobo, San Juan, Batangas City)
• the 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
• the rest of Masbate
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Oriental Mindoro

Visayas 

• The central portion of Eastern Samar (Taft, Sulat, San Julian, City of Borongan, Maydolong)
• the 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
• the northwestern portion of Leyte (Calubian)

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

Luzon 

• 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
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• Tarlac
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Pampanga
• Bulacan
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• Cavite
• the rest of Batangas
• Laguna
• the rest of Quezon
• Occidental Mindoro
• Cuyo Islands
• Calamian Islands

Visayas 

• The rest of Eastern Samar
• the rest of Samar
• the rest of 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 and Bantayan Islands
•  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, Estancia, 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 portion of Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi, Tibiao, Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-An, Caluya)
• Mindanao
• Siargao Island 
• Bucas Grande Islands 
• Dinagat Islands 

PAGASA said that Opong is forecast to make landfall over Northern Samar or the northern portion of Eastern Samar on the early morning of Friday, September 26, before heading towards Bicol Region for another landfall also on Friday morning. 

The state weather bureau also said that it may reach typhoon category before making landfall.

Moreover, the weather forecast suggested that the severe tropical storm may bring stormy weather over the Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Marinduque, Romblon, and Quezon. 

The storm is also expected to cause rains with gusty winds over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, the rest of CALABARZON, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Dinagat Islands. 

Opong may also bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over the rest of Luzon. –NB, GMA Integrated News