Pagasa: Tropical Depression Ofel to bring rains, gusty winds in Samar, Sorsogon

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Ofel is expected to bring rains and gusty winds over the Samar provinces and Sorsogon in the next 24 hours, the weather state bureau said Tuesday.

In its 24-hour public weather forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) warned residents of the provinces of possible flash floods or landslides due to light to moderate to at times heavy rains.

As of 3 p.m., Ofel, which intensified into a tropical depression Tuesday afternoon, was estimated 135 km East Southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

Ofel is moving north northwest at 15 kph.

Meanwhile, Mindanao, Region IV-B or Mimaropa, and the rest of Visayas and of Bicol Region will likely experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to Ofel and the Southwest Monsoon or Amihan.

As for Metro Manila and the rest of the country, localized thunderstorms are expected to bring partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers in the next 24 hours.

Severe thunderstorms may cause flash floods and landslides, Pagasa said. [ac]