MANILA— Severe Tropical Storm Opong (Buagoi) continues to maintain its strength while moving westward over the Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Thursday.

As of 4:00 p.m., the center of Opong was located 195 kilometers east-northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, or 225 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center, gusts of up to 135 kilometers per hour, and a central pressure of 980 hPa. The storm was moving westward at 15 kilometers per hour.

PAGASA has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 over parts of Luzon and the Visayas, including Sorsogon, the northern portion of Masbate, Northern Samar, northern Eastern Samar, and northern Samar. Areas under TCWS No. 3 are warned of storm-force winds with “moderate to significant threat to life and property.”

Gale-force winds under TCWS No. 2 are expected in the eastern portions of Batangas and southern Quezon, as well as in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Masbate, Biliran, and parts of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Leyte. Strong winds under TCWS No. 1 cover extensive areas in Luzon, Visayas, and parts of Mindanao.

PAGASA also warned of high-risk storm surges exceeding three meters within 36 hours over low-lying or exposed coastal areas of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, and Cebu. Coastal waters are expected to experience very rough to high waves, with some areas reaching up to 11 meters, prompting authorities to advise mariners to remain in port or seek shelter.

Opong is forecast to make landfall over Northern Samar or northern Eastern Samar early Friday before moving toward the Bicol Region, where another landfall is likely in Sorsogon. PAGASA said the storm may reach typhoon strength before landfall and will weaken as it traverses the archipelago but could remain as a typhoon or severe tropical storm. Re-intensification is possible once the storm emerges over the West Philippine Sea.