Pagasa lifts all storm warnings as ‘Ompong’ leaves

Typhoon ‘Ompong’ (upper, left of center) is shown outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility in this satellite photo released by Pagasa. PAGASA PHOTO

As Typhoon “Ompong” (international name: “Mangkhut”) moved away from the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) lifted all storm warning signals in the country.

Nevertheless, scattered moderate to heavy rain will persist over western sections of Luzon and the Visayas as Ompong continued to enhance the southwest monsoon, Pagasa said in a press briefing.

Scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rain will be experienced over the Western Visayas, Mimaropa, the Ilocos Region, Batangas, Bataan and Zambales, the weather bureau added.

Ompong maintained its strength with maximum sustained winds of 145 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 180 kph, according to Pagasa’s final severe weather bulletin on the typhoon.

The typhoon was last spotted 480 km west-northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, as of 4 a.m., Sunday. It was moving west-northwest towards Southern China at a speed of 25 kph.

Fisherfolk and those with small seacraft are advised not to venture out over the northern and western seaboards of Luzon. /cbb