Opong slightly stronger with more areas under storm signals

Severe Tropical Storm Opong will continue to intensify while passing over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau PAGASA said on Wednesday evening. 

According to the 11 p.m. weather bulletin, the center of Opong was monitored at 595 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, or 660 kilometers east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte. 

The severe tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 125 kilometers per hour. It is moving west-northwest at 15 kilometers per hour. 

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 remains hoisted over Northern Samar and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Oras, Jipapad, Arteche).

Meanwhile, more areas are now under Signal No. 1: 

Luzon 

• Quezon, including the Polillo Islands
• Rizal
• Laguna
• The southeastern portion of Batangas (Cuenca, Taysan, Lobo, Talisay, Padre Garcia, Agoncillo, San Pascual, Santo Tomas, Bauan, San Jose, San Luis, Lipa City, Ibaan, City of Tanauan, Mabini, Mataasnakahoy, Alitagtag, Balete, Tingloy, San Juan, San Nicolas, Batangas City, Rosario, Santa Teresita, Taal, Malvar, Laurel)
• Marinduque
• Oriental Mindoro
• Romblon
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Masbate, including Ticao Island and Burias Island 

Visayas 

• Samar
• the rest of Eastern Samar
• Biliran
• the northern portion of Leyte (Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City, Calubian, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara, Palo)

PAGASA said that Opong may make landfall over the Bicol Region by Friday afternoon, September 26. But it may reach typhoon category before making landfall, it added. 

After making landfall and crossing southern Luzon, Opong will continue to move generally west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday afternoon or evening, September 27. 

On the other hand, the weather forecast showed that Opong may bring rain with gusty winds over Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Samar. 

Meanwhile, cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms may be experienced over Bicol Region, Central Visayas, Quezon, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Isabela, Aurora, and the rest of Eastern Visayas due to the severe tropical storm. –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News