Signal No. 2 up in 3 areas as Opong moves over West Philippine Sea

Three areas are under Signal No. 2 as Severe Tropical Storm Opong is now over the West Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau PAGASA said on Friday evening. 

According to the 8 p.m. weather bulletin, the center of Opong was last monitored 215 kilometers west of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

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 west-northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour. 

Signal No. 2 was hoisted over the western portion of Batangas (Nasugbu, Tuy, Balayan, Lian, Calatagan, Calaca), Occidental Mindoro, and Calamian Islands. 

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

Luzon 

• Pangasinan
• the southern portion of Aurora (Dingalan, Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis)
• Nueva Ecija
• Tarlac
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Pampanga
• Bulacan
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• Cavite
• Laguna
•  the rest of Batangas
• Quezon
• The western portion of Camarines Norte
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Oriental Mindoro
•  The northern portion of Palawan, including Cuyo Islands (Dumaran, San Vicente, Roxas, Taytay, Araceli, El Nido)

Visayas 

• Aklan
• The northern portion of Antique (Patnongon, Barbaza, Pandan, San Jose, Bugasong, Culasi, Sebaste, Tibiao, Belison, Laua-An, Libertad), including Caluya Islands
•  the western portion of Capiz (Sapi-An, Tapaz, Mambusao, Jamindan)

Opong may re-intensify into a typhoon within the next 12 hours while moving over the West Philippine Sea. But PAGASA said that it will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday morning or afternoon, September 27. 

According to the weather forecast, Opong may bring stormy weather over Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and the northern portion of Palawan. 

The severe tropical storm may also bring rains with gusty winds over Metro Manila, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Marinduque, Romblon, Antique, and Aklan. 

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