Severe tropical storm Opong has continued to intensify as it moves closer to Romblon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

As of 8:00 a.m. Friday, the storm’s center was located over the coastal waters of Mandaon, Masbate. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center, with gusts reaching up to 150 kph, while moving west-northwestward at 30 kph.

PAGASA said Opong may make landfall or pass very near Romblon and Mindoro within the next 12 hours before emerging over the West Philippine Sea by Friday afternoon or evening. The typhoon is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday afternoon, September 27.

Heavy rainfall is expected across Southern Luzon. In Metro Manila, the peak of rains is likely between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. today, according to PAGASA weather forecaster Munir Baldomero.

"Ang CALABARZON po ang medyo makkaaranas ng mga malalakas na pag-ulan," he added.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals have been raised in several areas as the typhoon continues its approach.

TCWS No.3

• Luzon

• Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Albay, the western and southern portions of Camarines Sur (Buhi, Iriga City, Bato, Nabua, Balatan, Baao, Bula, Minalabac, San Fernando, Pamplona, Pasacao, Libmanan, Sagñay, Tigaon, Pili, Ocampo, Calabanga, Naga City, Bombon, Canaman, Magarao, Gainza, Milaor, Camaligan, Cabusao, Sipocot, Lupi, Ragay, Del Gallego), the southern portion of Quezon (San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Mulanay, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Guinayangan, Lopez, Macalelon, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Gumaca, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Pagbilao, City of Tayabas, Lucban, Sampaloc, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio), Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, Batangas, and the southern portion of Laguna (Alaminos, San Pablo City, Rizal, Nagcarlan, Liliw, Majayjay, Luisiana)

• Visayas

• The western portion of Northern Samar (Capul, San Antonio, San Vicente), the western portion of Samar (Tagapul-An, Almagro, Santo Niño), the extreme northern portion of Biliran (Maripipi), the northwestern portion of Capiz (Panay, Sapi-An, Ivisan, Roxas City), the northern portion of Aklan (Makato, Tangalan, Kalibo, New Washington, Ibajay, Lezo, Malay, Nabas, Numancia, Batan, Buruanga), and Caluya Islands

TCWS No.2

• Luzon

• Catanduanes, the rest of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, the rest of Quezon, the rest of Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, the southern portion of Zambales (San Marcelino, Subic, Olongapo City, Castillejos, San Antonio, San Narciso, San Felipe), and Calamian Islands

• Visayas

• The rest of Northern Samar, the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Oras, Arteche, Jipapad, Maslog, Dolores, Can-Avid, Taft), the northern and central portions of Samar (Matuguinao, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, San Jose de Buan, Gandara, San Jorge, Tarangnan, Pagsanghan, Paranas, Jiabong, Motiong, City of Catbalogan, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, Villareal, Talalora, Santa Rita, Daram, Zumarraga), the rest of Biliran, the northern portion of Leyte (Babatngon, San Miguel, Alangalang, Tacloban City, Barugo, Tunga, Jaro, Carigara, Kananga, Capoocan, Leyte, Tabango, Calubian, San Isidro, Villaba, Ormoc City, Matag-Ob, Palompon, Merida, Isabel, Santa Fe), the northern portion of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, Tabogon, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Borbon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen) including Camotes and Bantayan Islands, the extreme northern portion of Negros Occidental (Toboso, City of Escalante, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona), the northern portion of Iloilo (Estancia, Carles, Balasan, Batad, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Sara, Ajuy, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, San Enrique, City of Passi, Bingawan, Calinog), the rest of Capiz, the rest of Aklan, the northwestern portion of Antique (Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi)

TCWS No.1

• Luzon

• Quirino, the central and southern portions of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda, Bayombong, Dupax del Norte, Ambaguio, Kayapa, Santa Fe, Aritao, Bambang, Dupax del Sur, Kasibu), the central and southern portions of Benguet (Itogon, Bokod, Kabayan, Atok, Kapangan, Tublay, La Trinidad, Sablan, Tuba, Baguio City), the central and southern portions of La Union (Rosario, Santo Tomas, Pugo, Tubao, Agoo, Aringay, Caba, Bauang, Naguilian, Burgos, Bagulin, City of San Fernando), Pangasinan, the central and southern portions of Aurora (Dinalungan, Dingalan, Baler, Maria Aurora, Dipaculao, San Luis), Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, the rest of Zambales, Cuyo Islands, and the northern portion of mainland Palawan (El Nido, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli)

• Visayas

• The rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, the rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte, the eastern and central portions of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido, Ubay, Trinidad, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Mabini, San Miguel, Alicia, Candijay, Anda, Guindulman, Pilar, Dagohoy, Danao, Buenavista, Inabanga, Clarin, Sagbayan, Carmen, Sierra Bullones, Duero, Jagna), the central portion of Cebu (Asturias, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cebu City, Balamban, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Toledo City, City of Talisay, Pinamungahan, Minglanilla, City of Naga, San Fernando, Aloguinsan, City of Carcar, Barili), the northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan), the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (Calatrava, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Silay City, City of Talisay, Bacolod City, Bago City, Murcia, La Castellana, Valladolid, Pulupandan, La Carlota City, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Hinigaran), the central portion of Iloilo (Banate, Anilao, Dueñas, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, Lambunao, Janiuay, Badiangan, Pototan, Mina, Zarraga, New Lucena, Cabatuan, Maasin), and the central portion of Antique (Tibiao, Barbaza, Bugasong, Laua-An, Valderrama)

• Mindanao

• Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island and Bucas Grande Islands