Severe Tropical Storm Opong Intensifies: Here’s Where It Could Make Landfall

Current Situation

Severe Tropical StormOpong continues to intensify while moving west northwestward across the Philippine Sea. At 4:00 AM, the center was located 440 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar (10.9°N, 129.8°E).

• Maximum sustained winds: 110 km/h
• Gustiness: up to 135 km/h
• Central pressure: 980 hPa
• Movement: West northwest at 20 km/h
• Extent of winds: Strong to storm-force winds up to 450 km

Areas Under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals

Signal No. 2 (Gale-force winds, 62–88 km/h)

Warning lead time: 24 hours | Minor to moderate threat to life and property

Luzon

• Catanduanes
• Albay (southern portion: Santo Domingo, Legazpi City, Camalig, Rapu-Rapu, Bacacay, Daraga, Jovellar, Manito)
• Sorsogon

Visayas

• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar (northern and central portions: Can-Avid, Maslog, San Policarpo, Taft, Dolores, Jipapad, Oras, Arteche, Sulat, San Julian)
• Samar (northern and central portions: San Jorge, San Sebastian, Villareal, Zumarraga, Matuguinao, Pinabacdao, Almagro, Calbayog City, Talalora, Jiabong, Pagsanghan, Catbalogan City, Gandara, Motiong, Santo Niño, Tagapul-An, San Jose de Buan, Santa Margarita, Tarangnan, Calbiga, Daram, Paranas, Hinabangan)

Signal No. 1 (Strong winds, 39–61 km/h)

Warning lead time: 36 hours | Minimal to minor threat to life and property

Luzon

• Rest of Albay
• Masbate (including Ticao Island, Burias Island)
• Camarines Sur
• Camarines Norte
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Oriental Mindoro
• Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Islands)
• Quezon (including Polillo Islands)
• Rizal
• Laguna
• Batangas
• Cavite
• Aurora
• Metro Manila
• Bulacan
• Nueva Ecija
• Tarlac
• Pampanga
• Zambales
• Bataan
• Isabela (central and southern portions: Alicia, San Mateo, Aurora, Ramon, Naguilian, Dinapigue, San Guillermo, Luna, Cauayan City, Echague, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, Santiago City, Reina Mercedes, San Agustin, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Gamu, San Isidro, Cordon, Jones, Burgos, San Mariano, Palanan)
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Ifugao
• Mountain Province (southwest: Bauko, Sabangan, Tadian)
• Benguet
• Ilocos Sur (southern portion: Sugpon, Alilem)
• La Union
• Pangasinan

Visayas

• Rest of Eastern Samar
• Rest of Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Cebu (northern portion: Daanbantayan, Medellin, Bogo City, Tabogon, San Remigio, Borbon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Catmon, Tuburan, Carmen, Danao City, Asturias, Compostela; including Camotes Island and Bantayan Island)
• Negros Occidental (northern portion: Escalante City, Toboso, Calatrava, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Manapla, Victorias City, Enrique B. Magalona, Silay City, Talisay City)
• Iloilo (northern portion: San Dionisio, Batad, Balasan, Carles, Sara, Concepcion, Ajuy, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Banate, Anilao, San Enrique, Passi City, Bingawan, Calinog, Lambunao, Dueñas, Dingle)
• Capiz
• Aklan
• Antique (northern and central portions: Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi, Tibiao, Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-An; including Caluya Islands)
• Calamian Islands

Mindanao

• Siargao Island
• Bucas Grande Island
• Dinagat Island

Hazards Affecting Land Areas

• Heavy Rainfall: Possible flooding and landslides, especially in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and parts of Luzon.
• Severe Winds: Gale-force winds in Signal No. 2 areas; strong winds in Signal No. 1 areas. Stronger in coastal/mountainous terrain.
• Storm Surge: 1.0–3.0 meters possible within 48 hours in Aurora, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Bicol, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran.

Hazards Affecting Coastal Waters

• Very rough seas up to 6.0 m: Northern/eastern Catanduanes, Northern Samar; eastern Albay and Sorsogon
• Rough seas up to 4.0 m: Northeastern Eastern Samar, northern Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte
• Moderate to rough seas: Remaining coasts of Eastern Samar (up to 3.5 m), eastern Dinagat Islands (up to 3.0 m), Batanes and Babuyan Islands, eastern seaboards of Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Polillo Islands, Davao Oriental (up to 2.5 m), northern Ilocos Norte

Small vessels are strongly advised to avoid sea travel.

Track and Intensity Outlook

• Opong may reach typhoon strength before landfall.
• Forecast track: Possible landfall over Bicol Region on 26 September (afternoon or evening), then crossing Southern Luzon throughout Friday.
• Expected to move into the West Philippine Sea and exit the PAR by Saturday, 27 September (afternoon or evening).
• Re-intensification is likely once over open waters.

Advisory: Residents in affected areas are urged to monitor updates, heed local authorities, and take precautions against flooding, landslides, strong winds, storm surge, and hazardous sea conditions.