Opong now over Masbate; weakens into severe tropical storm

From a tropical cyclone, Opong has been classified as a severe tropical storm as it weakened and is now over the province of Masbate on Friday morning, according to PAGASA.

In its 5 a.m. advisory, the state weather bureau the center Opong as of 4:00 a.m.  was estimated in the vicinity of Palanas, Masbate.

Moving in a west northwestward direction at a rate of 30 km/h, Opong has maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 150 km/h, and central pressure of 985 hPa.

Signal No.3 is in effect over the following areas:

Luzon 

• Sorsogon, 
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, 
• Albay, 
• the western and southern portions of Camarines Sur (Buhi, Iriga City, Bato, Nabua, Balatan, Baao, Bula, Minalabac, San Fernando, Pamplona, Pasacao, Libmanan, Sagñay, Tigaon, Pili, Ocampo, Calabanga, Naga City, Bombon, Canaman, Magarao, Gainza, Milaor, Camaligan, Cabusao, Sipocot, Lupi, Ragay, Del Gallego), 
• the southern portion of Quezon (San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Mulanay, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Guinayangan, Lopez, Macalelon, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Pagbilao, City of Tayabas, Lucban, Sampaloc, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio), 
• Marinduque, 
• Romblon, 
• Oriental Mindoro, 
• Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, 
• Batangas, 
• the southern portion of Laguna (Alaminos, San Pablo City, Rizal, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Majayjay, Luisiana)

Visayas

• Northern Samar, 
• the northern and central portions of Eastern Samar (Can-Avid, Maslog, City of Borongan, San Policarpo, Taft, Maydolong, Dolores, Jipapad, Oras, Arteche, Balangkayan, Sulat, San Julian), 
• the northern and central portions of Samar (San Jorge, San Sebastian, Santa Rita, 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, Basey, Hinabangan), 
• Biliran, 
• and the northern portion of Leyte (Babatngon, San Miguel, Tacloban City, Barugo, Calubian, San Isidro, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara)

Signal No.2 has been hoisted over these locations:

Luzon

• Catanduanes, 
• the rest of Camarines Sur, 
• Camarines Norte, 
• the rest of Quezon, 
• the rest of Laguna, 
• Rizal, 
• Cavite, 
• Metro Manila, 
• Bulacan, 
• Pampanga, 
• Bataan, 
• the southern portion of Zambales (San Marcelino, Subic, Olongapo City, Castillejos, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe), 
• and Calamian Islands

Visayas

• The rest of Eastern Samar, 
• the rest of Samar, 
• the northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, Mahaplag, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Mayorga, Julita, Dagami, Inopacan, Jaro, Abuyog, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Javier, Dulag, Alangalang, Hindang, City of Baybay, Burauen, Tabango, Kananga), 
• the northern portion of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, Tabogon, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Borbon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen) including Camotes and Bantayan Islands,  
• the extreme northern portion of Negros Occidental (Toboso, City of Escalante, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona), 
• the northern portion of Iloilo (Estancia, Carles, Balasan, Batad, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Sara, Ajuy, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, San Enrique, City of Passi, Bingawan, Calinog), 
• Capiz, 
• Aklan, 
• and the northwestern portion of Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi) including Caluya Islands

Signal  No. 1 is up over:

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, 
• the rest of Zambales, 
• Cuyo Islands, 
• and the northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli)

Visayas 

• Southern Leyte, 
• the rest of Leyte, 
• the eastern and central portions of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido, Ubay, Trinidad, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Mabini, San Miguel, Alicia, Candijay, Anda, Guindulman, Pilar, Dagohoy, Danao, Buenavista, Inabanga, Clarin, Sagbayan, Carmen, Sierra Bullones, Duero, Jagna), 
• the central portion of Cebu (Asturias, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cebu City, Balamban, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Toledo City, City of Talisay, Pinamungahan, Minglanilla, City of Naga, San Fernando, Aloguinsan, City of Carcar, Barili), 
• the northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan), 
• the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Silay City, City of Talisay, Bacolod City, Bago City, Murcia, La Castellana, Valladolid, Pulupandan, La Carlota City, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Hinigaran), 
• the central portion of Iloilo (Banate, Anilao, Dueñas, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Lambunao, Janiuay, Badiangan, Pototan, Mina, Zarraga, New Lucena, Cabatuan, Maasin), 
• and the central portion of Antique (Tibiao, Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-An, Valderrama) 

Mindanao

• Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island and Bucas Grande Islands

Meanwhile, the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Opong, will bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas not under Wind Signal especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds):

Friday

Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Palawan, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Caraga Region, and Davao Region.

Saturday
Luzon and Western Visayas

A Gale Warning is in effect over the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas and the western seaboard of Central Luzon.

PAGASA said Opong will continue moving west northwestward traversing Masbate, Sibuyan Sea, southern CALABARZON, and northern MIMAROPA, before emerging over the West Philippine Sea late evening Friday or Saturday early morning.

“As Opong crosses the archipelago, it will likely remain as a severe tropical storm. Re-intensification is highly likely once OPONG emerges over the West Philippine Sea”, the weather agency said. —RF, GMA Integrated News