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Opong Intensifies As It Bears Down On Eastern Visayas And Bicol Region
Photo credit: DOST-PAGASA
Severe Tropical Storm Opong, internationally known as BUALOI, continues its threatening approach toward the Eastern Visayas region this evening, September 25, 2025. The 8:00 PM bulletin reports that the storm’s center was last estimated 150 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, as of 7:00 PM. Opong is currently moving west northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour, maintaining maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness reaching up to 135 kilometers per hour.
The weather bureau projects a critical day ahead. Opong is forecast to make its initial landfall over Northern Samar or the northern portion of Eastern Samar very early tomorrow morning, September 26. It will then quickly head towards the Bicol Region, where a second landfall is likely in the vicinity of Sorsogon later tomorrow morning. Throughout the day, Opong will move across the Sibuyan Sea and traverse the mainland and/or island provinces of Bicol, Southern CALABARZON, and Northern MIMAROPA, before finally exiting toward the West Philippine Sea on Saturday morning. Officials note that Opong may reach typhoon category before making landfall, and though it will weaken as it crosses the archipelago, it is expected to remain a powerful severe tropical storm or typhoon during its passage.
Due to the approaching danger, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals have been raised over several areas. TCWS No. 3 is now in effect, warning of storm-force winds (89 to 117 km/h) that pose a moderate to significant threat to life and property. This signal covers Sorsogon, the southern portion of Albay, Masbate, Northern Samar, the northern portion of Eastern Samar, and the northern portion of Samar.
A wider area is under TCWS No. 2, which indicates gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h) and a minor to moderate threat. This includes the rest of Eastern Samar and Samar, Biliran, northern Leyte, northern Cebu including Bantayan Islands, northern Aklan, northern Capiz, northern Iloilo, Caluya Islands, as well as a large part of Southern Luzon, specifically Laguna, Batangas, southern Quezon, Camarines Norte and Sur, the rest of Albay, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Calamian Islands.
Finally, TCWS No. 1 is raised for strong winds (39 to 61 km/h) across central and southern Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, the southwestern portion of Mountain Province, Benguet, southern Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, the rest of Quezon, Cuyo Islands, and northern mainland Palawan. In the Visayas, TCWS No. 1 covers the rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte, northern Bohol, northern Cebu including Camotes Islands, northern Negros Occidental, central Iloilo, the rest of Capiz and Aklan, and northern Antique. In Mindanao, the signal is up for Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.
Beyond the wind, residents need to prepare for other severe hazards. There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3.0 meters within the next 36 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Cebu, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao Island.
Furthermore, the Southwest Monsoon, enhanced by Opong, will bring strong to gale-force gusts to areas not under a Wind Signal, particularly the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Palawan, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Caraga Region, and Davao Region both tonight and tomorrow. Heavy rainfall is expected, and the coastal waters are extremely dangerous. Sea conditions are up to very rough, high, or very high, with waves reaching up to 11.0 meters off the seaboards of Catanduanes, eastern Albay, Sorsogon, and the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar. Sea travel is officially deemed risky for all types and tonnage of vessels, and mariners must remain in port or seek safe harbor immediately.
The public and disaster risk reduction and management offices are strongly advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property. Those living in areas highly susceptible to these hazards should follow all evacuation and safety instructions from local officials.
The weather bureau projects a critical day ahead. Opong is forecast to make its initial landfall over Northern Samar or the northern portion of Eastern Samar very early tomorrow morning, September 26. It will then quickly head towards the Bicol Region, where a second landfall is likely in the vicinity of Sorsogon later tomorrow morning. Throughout the day, Opong will move across the Sibuyan Sea and traverse the mainland and/or island provinces of Bicol, Southern CALABARZON, and Northern MIMAROPA, before finally exiting toward the West Philippine Sea on Saturday morning. Officials note that Opong may reach typhoon category before making landfall, and though it will weaken as it crosses the archipelago, it is expected to remain a powerful severe tropical storm or typhoon during its passage.
Due to the approaching danger, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals have been raised over several areas. TCWS No. 3 is now in effect, warning of storm-force winds (89 to 117 km/h) that pose a moderate to significant threat to life and property. This signal covers Sorsogon, the southern portion of Albay, Masbate, Northern Samar, the northern portion of Eastern Samar, and the northern portion of Samar.
A wider area is under TCWS No. 2, which indicates gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h) and a minor to moderate threat. This includes the rest of Eastern Samar and Samar, Biliran, northern Leyte, northern Cebu including Bantayan Islands, northern Aklan, northern Capiz, northern Iloilo, Caluya Islands, as well as a large part of Southern Luzon, specifically Laguna, Batangas, southern Quezon, Camarines Norte and Sur, the rest of Albay, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and Calamian Islands.
Finally, TCWS No. 1 is raised for strong winds (39 to 61 km/h) across central and southern Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, the southwestern portion of Mountain Province, Benguet, southern Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, the rest of Quezon, Cuyo Islands, and northern mainland Palawan. In the Visayas, TCWS No. 1 covers the rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte, northern Bohol, northern Cebu including Camotes Islands, northern Negros Occidental, central Iloilo, the rest of Capiz and Aklan, and northern Antique. In Mindanao, the signal is up for Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.
Beyond the wind, residents need to prepare for other severe hazards. There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3.0 meters within the next 36 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Cebu, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Dinagat Islands, and Siargao Island.
Furthermore, the Southwest Monsoon, enhanced by Opong, will bring strong to gale-force gusts to areas not under a Wind Signal, particularly the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Palawan, Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Caraga Region, and Davao Region both tonight and tomorrow. Heavy rainfall is expected, and the coastal waters are extremely dangerous. Sea conditions are up to very rough, high, or very high, with waves reaching up to 11.0 meters off the seaboards of Catanduanes, eastern Albay, Sorsogon, and the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar. Sea travel is officially deemed risky for all types and tonnage of vessels, and mariners must remain in port or seek safe harbor immediately.
The public and disaster risk reduction and management offices are strongly advised to take all necessary measures to protect life and property. Those living in areas highly susceptible to these hazards should follow all evacuation and safety instructions from local officials.
Sep 25, 2025
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