‘Ompong’ sustains 205-kph winds as it heads to northern Luzon

Typhoon “Ompong” (international name Mangkhut) has maintained its strength as it aimed for northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said Wednesday evening.

Signal No. 1 was raised over Camarines Sur and Catanduanes, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Administration said.

Stormy weather is expected in the next 36 hours in these areas.

Ompong packed maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 255 kph.

It was last spotted 1,005 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes, moving west-northwest at a speed of 20 kph.

Storm signals may be raised over Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quirino, Polilo Islands, Camarines Norte and Albay, Pagasa said.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall over the northern tip of Cagayan on Saturday morning.

On Friday, strong winds, storm surges and heavy to intense rains may hit Cagayan and Isabela.

Weather forecaster Gener Quitlong warned of possible storm surges of up to 3 meters over the coast of the two provinces.

Ompong is the strongest tropical cyclone so far to hit the Philippines this year.