Typhoon Ompong accelerates slightly; most warning signals lowered

Typhoon Ompong (international name Mangkhut) accelerated slightly as it continued to move west-northwest towards southern China, weather service PAGASA reported in a 2 a.m.-Sunday bulletin.

At 1 a.m., Ompong was 460 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan, and outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Ompong had  145 kilometer per hour sustained winds, which could gust up to 180 kph, and was moving west-northwest at 30 kph.

Despite Ompong exiting the PAR Saturday night, the typhoon was still affecting the country, with Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 1 was still raised over:

• the Batanes,
• Ilocos Norte,
• Ilocos Sur, and
• La Union.

These areas would experience 30-60 kph winds, and open sea wave heights of  1.25 to four meters.

Ompong would also enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing light to moderate to at times heavy rain over the Western Visayas and Mimaropa Regions, Batangas, Bataan, Zambales, and Pangasinan.

Furthermore, sea conditions along the seaboards of Luzon and of the Visayas were still dangerous for fisherfolk and small seacraft due to Ompong.

Finally, given Ompong's course, the typhoon would be 1,150 kilometers west of Basco, Batanes and further away from the PAR, by Sunday evening. — DVM, GMA News