Severe Tropical Storm Opong makes landfall in Oriental Mindoro, now over West Philippine Sea

Severe Tropical Storm Opong has made landfall in Oriental Mindoro and is now over the West Philippine Sea.

As of Friday evening, Opong maintained maximum sustained winds of 110 kph with gustiness of up to 135 kph.

The storm is moving west-northwestward at 30 kph and is anticipated to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Saturday afternoon.

PAGASA has lowered the tropical cyclone wind signals with Signal No. 2 now in effect over the northwestern portion of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands.

Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over several other areas in Luzon and Visayas.

The trough of the storm and the enhanced southwest monsoon may still bring significant rains over Western Visayas, Negros, and parts of Central and Northern Luzon through Saturday afternoon.

Opong may re-intensify into a typhoon over the West Philippine Sea before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility.