Tropical Depression Opong enters PAR

The tropical depression monitored east of northeastern Mindanao entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday afternoon.

PAGASA said the TD entered PAR at 4 p.m. and will be given the local name “Opong.”

Opong was observed 1,045 km East of Northeastern Mindanao, carrying maximum sustained winds of 55km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. It was traveling west-southwest at 10 km/h.

The state weather bureau said Opong is “less likely” to affect the weather conditions of the country in the next 36 hours. 

“Onset of heavy rains due Opong is possible by Thursday (25 September) onwards,” PAGASA said.

It added that Signal No. 1 will be hoisted over Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region as early as Wednesday. 

“The highest Wind Signal that may be hoisted throughout its passage is Wind Signal No. 3, considering that this tropical cyclone may reach severe tropical storm category,” state meteorologists said.

Opong is expected to continue to intensify over the Philippine Sea and may reach severe tropical storm category by Thursday afternoon.

"Further intensification, especially after the passage over the Philippine landmass, is not ruled out," PAGASA said.

It added that the storm may pass close or make landfall over Northern Samar by early Friday morning and cross Southern Luzon area until Friday evening or Saturday early morning.

Opong may bring moderate to rough seas over the coastal waters of Eastern Visayas and northeastern Mindanao starting Thursday afternoon.

A gale warning may be raised over Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region on the same day in anticipation of rough to very rough sea conditions. 

Opong is forecast to move generally southwestward over the next 24 hours before turning westward to west-northwestward while approaching the Eastern Visayas – Southern Luzon area.

PAGASA said it is still monitoring Super Typhoon Ragasa, formerly Nando, which exited PAR at 8 a.m.

At 3 p.m., Ragasa was located 520 km west of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h and gustiness of 230 km/h. It was moving northwestward at 20 km/h.

Weather forecast

Based on PAGASA’s 4 p.m. weather forecast, the Southwest Monsoon will affect the weather conditions of several areas in the country. 

These areas include La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Occidental Mindoro, Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, the Visayas, and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Meanwhile, the localized thunderstorms will bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms throughout the rest of Mindanao.

The state weather bureau warned the public that these weather conditions may cause flash floods and landslides. 

State meteorologists also said Luzon will experience moderate to strong wind conditions and moderate to rough coastal water conditions.

Winds will be light to moderate, while coastal waters will be slight to moderate in Visayas and Mindanao.

Sunrise in Metro Manila will be at 5:45 a.m. on Wednesday. –NB, GMA Integrated News