Signal No. 1 in nearly entire Luzon due to Typhoon Ompong

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MANILA, Philippines – Practically the entire Luzon was placed under Signal No. 1 on Thursday afternoon, September 13, as Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) maintained its strength while threatening Northern Luzon.

In a bulletin issued 5 pm on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ompong is already 575 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, moving west northwest at a slightly faster 25 kilometers per hour (km/h) from the previous 20 km/h.

The typhoon continues to have maximum winds of 205 km/h and gustiness of up to 255 km/h.

Signal No. 1 is now raised in:

• Batanes
• Cagayan including Babuyan Group of Islands
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Isabela
• Benguet
• Pangasinan
• La Union
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Aurora
• Pampanga
• Bataan
• Zambales
• Tarlac
• Nueva Ecija
• Bulacan
• Rizal
• Metro Manila
• Cavite
• Batangas
• Laguna
• Quezon including Polillo Island
• northern part of Occidental Mindoro
• northern part of Oriental Mindoro
• Masbate
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Burias and Ticao islands
• Northern Samar

Occasional rains with gusty winds are expected in areas under Signal No. 1 within the next 36 hours.

PAGASA warned there may be heavy to intense rain, storm surges in coastal areas, and very strong winds in Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region beginning Friday, September 14, and in Northern Luzon on Saturday, September 15. (READ: FAST FACTS: Tropical cyclones, rainfall advisories)

Ompong might make landfall in the Cagayan-Isabela area early Saturday morning. (READ: Will Typhoon Ompong be the same as Super Typhoon Lawin?)

Fishermen and others with small sea vessels are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of areas under Signal No. 1, the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of the Visayas and Mindanao.

Nearly 3,000 passengers were stranded in various ports on Thursday. Several flights were also canceled.

Class suspensions have already been announced for the rest of the week. (READ: #WalangPasok: Class suspensions for September 13, 14, 15)

The typhoon is also enhancing the southwest monsoon or hanging habagat. The enhanced southwest monsoon could trigger moderate to heavy rain in Palawan, the Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Visayas from Friday to Saturday.

Residents of areas affected by the southwest monsoon should be on alert for flash floods and landslides, too.

National government agencies, local government units, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Coast Guard were placed on alert to respond to the typhoon.

Ompong is the Philippines’ 15th tropical cyclone for 2018. The country usually gets an average of 20 tropical cyclones per year. (READ: LIST: PAGASA’s names for tropical cyclones in 2018)

PAGASA declared the start of the rainy season last June 8. – Rappler.com

News you can use during Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut): 

• Weather updates and storm signals 
• Reports on evacuation, emergencies, and rescue and relief efforts
• Typhoon Ompong: Free parking at SM, Ayala, Robinsons, Megaworld malls
• #WalangPasok: Class suspensions for September 13, 14, 15
• Canceled flights due to Typhoon Ompong
• Will Typhoon Ompong be the same as Super Typhoon Lawin?
• What gov’t has done so far to prepare for Typhoon Ompong
• Fact-check on viral stories related to Typhoon Ompong