MANILA - At least 27 areas were placed under signal number 1 shortly before noon Thursday as a "slower" Typhoon Ompong moved closer to the country, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

Ompong continues to pack maximum sustained winds of 205 kph near the center and gusts of up to 255 kph, but it "slightly slowed down" at 20 kph, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. weather bulletin.

It is expected to make landfall in northern Cagayan on Saturday morning (September 15), PAGASA said.

The following areas have been placed under storm signal number 1:

• Batanes
• Cagayan including Babuyan group of Islands
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Isabela
• Benguet
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Aurora
• Nueva Ecija
• Bulacan
• Rizal
• Laguna
• Quezon including Polillo Island
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Burias and Ticao island
• Northern Samar

Areas under signal number 1 will experience the periphery of Typhoon Ompong in the next 36 hours, PAGASA said.

Fisherfolk and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out as storm surges may reach up to 5 to 6 meters in the seas near Isabela and Cagayan, weather forecasters said.

"Ang maximum rainfall ay maaaring maranasan sa Cagayan at Isabela simula sa Biyernes at sa Sabado, ang maximum rainfall ay mararanasan sa Baguio," forecasters said.

(The maximum rainfall may be experienced in Cagayan and Isabela on Friday while Baguio will experience maximum rainfall on Saturday.)

Ompong is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Sunday morning.