MANILA- Four areas were placed under the second highest tropical cyclone warning signal Friday night, as Typhoon Ompong (international name: Mangkhut) nears landfall.

State weather bureau PAGASA placed Cagayan, northern Isabela, Apayao, and Abra under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 4 as winds of 171 kph to 220 kph are expected to be felt within the next 12 hours.

• Urgent preparations as PH's fiercest typhoon closes in

Ompong is expected to make landfall in the Cagayan-Isabela area
between 1 a.m. to 3 a.m Saturday, PAGASA weather specialist Lorie Dela Cruz said

The strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, Ompong maintained its speed of 30 kph and continues to move northwest.

• Ompong to lash areas within 1,000 km diameter: Weather Philippines

At 7 p.m., the center of the typhoon was spotted at 260 kilometers east, northeast of Casiguran, Aurora. It continues to pack maximum sustained winds of 205 kph with 255 kph gusts.

The following tropical cyclone warning signals are hoisted over the following areas:

SIGNAL NO. 3

- Batanes
- Babuyan group of islands
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Benguet
- Ifugao
- Nueva Vizcaya
-Quirino
- Northern Aurora
- Southern Isabela

SIGNAL NO. 2

- Pangasinan
- Tarlac
- Nueva Ecija
- Southern Aurora
- Zambales
- Pampanga
- Bulacan
-Northern Quezon including Polilo Island

SIGNAL NO. 1

- Bataan
- Rizal
- Metro Manila
- Cavite
- Batangas
- Laguna
- Rest of Quezon
- Northern Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island
- Northern Oriental Mindoro
- Masbate
- Marinduque
- Camarines Norte
- Camarines Sur
- Catanduanes
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Burias and Ticao Islands

Storm surges of up to 6 meters above mean sea level are possible in coastal areas in Cagayan and Ilocos Norte early Satuday morning, while storm surges up to 2 meters above mean sea level are possible in Isabela and Ilocos Sur, PAGASA said.

Occasional moderate to heavy rains may prevail over Visayas while scattered light to moderate to at times heavy rains may be experienced in Palawan, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga due to the southwest monsoon (Habagat) enhanced by Ompong.

Residents in these areas, especially those living near river channels, in low-lying areas, and in mountainous areas, are advised to take appropriate actions against possible flooding and landslides.

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

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