AT LEAST 10 areas in Luzon have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) Number 3, as Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) continues to move closer and threaten the Isabela-Cagayan area Friday, September 14.
As of 10 a.m. Friday, the eye of the typhoon was spotted at 540 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, still packing maximum winds of 205 kilometers per hour (km/h0 near the center and gustiness of up to 255 km/h. It was forecast to move northwest at 20 km/h.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) advised residents in northern and central Luzon to prepare as the typhoon is expected to make landfall in Isabela-Cagayan area by 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday, September 15.
"Sa ngayon, patungo pa rin sya sa hilagang Luzon pero posible pa ring mag-deviate toward the north and south with regard to the center track of the typhoon," said weather forecaster Chris Perez in a press briefing Friday.
"It will hit land at 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., so the critical time is tonight (September 14) until tomorrow morning (September 15)," he added.
Perez said the area of probability remains the same, but Ompong has less chance to develop into a super typhoon.
"Ang napapansin po natin, nagkakaroon ng minor weakening and nag-rereintensify but we expect the peak intensity to be only up to 220 km/h bago maglandfall, which is still under the typhoon category," he said.
As of 10 a.m. Friday, TCWS Number 1 has been raised in Cagayan, including Babuyan group of Islands, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Northern Aurora and Isabela.
Six meters storm surge is possible at coastal areas in these provinces, said Pagasa.
Under TCWS Number 2 are the provinces of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Southern Aurora, and Northern Zambales.
TCWS Number 1 was hoisted over southern Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Rizal, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon including Polillo Island, northern Occidental Mindoro incluband Lubang Island, northern Oriental Mindoro, Masbate, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias and Ticao Islands, and Northern Samar.
Pagasa said occasional rains and gusty winds will be experienced over areas under TCWS Number 1, while stormy weather is expected over areas under TCWS Numbers 2 and 3.
The southwest monsoon (habagat) enhanced by the typhoon will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over Visayas, while scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rains over Palawan, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Caraga, it added.
Residents in the above mentioned areas, especially those living near river channels, in low-lying areas and in mountainous areas, were advised to take appropriate actions against possible flooding and landslides, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and to continue monitoring for updates.
Pagasa also warned fisherfolk and those with small seacrafts against venturing out over the seaboards of areas with TCWS and the eastern seaboards of Visayas and of Mindanao.
Perez said the typhoon has a 90-kilometer diameter that its spiral clouds are already hitting and affecting some parts of northern Luzon.
Perez urged the public, especially residents in northern and central Luzon, to prepare for the typhoon, saying areas near the typhoon's eye will experience stormy weather.
"It doesn't mean na kapag wala ng mata, wala na tayong mararamdaman na sama ng panahon. Yung pinakamalapit po sa mata, nandun po yung pinaka-masamang panahon," he said.
He added that the typhoon will continue to enhance the habagat even after making landfall Saturday, September 15.
He also assured that Pagasa has been coordinating with other concerned agencies to ensure the safety of the public. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)