(Eagle News)—Typhoon “Ompong” is now in the vicinity of Baggao, Cagayan and is heading toward Apayao and Ilocos Norte, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
According to PAGASA, as of 4 a.m., “Ompong” is packing maximum sustained winds of 200 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 330 kilometers per hour.
The typhoon is moving west northwest at 35 kilometers per hour.
Signal No. 4 is up over Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, northern Isabela, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga and Babuyan Group of Islands.
Batanes, southern Isabela, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mountain Province, Benguet, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Northern Aurora are under Signal No. 3.
PAGASA said storm surges are possible in surge-prone areas in Cagayan and Ilocos Norte, with up to 6 meters in height; in Isabela, with up to 3 meters in height; and in Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan, with up to 2 meters in height.
Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, southern Aurora, Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, and northern Quezon including Polillo islands are under Signal No. 2.
Signal No. 1 is up over Bataan, Rizal, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, rest of Quezon, Lubang Island, Marinduque and Camarines Norte.
PAGASA said the southwest monsoon enhanced by the typhoon will bring gusty winds with occasional moderate to heavy rains over Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and the rest of Mimaropa and Bicol Region, while scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rains are expected over eastern and Central Visayas.
Fisherfolk and small seacraft are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of areas under a tropical cyclone signal, and over the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and the northern and western seaboards of Mindanao.
