WALANG PASOK: Class suspensions for November 14 due to Ofel

MANILA, Philippines — Class suspensions were implemented in some parts of Luzon on Thursday, November 14, due to Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi).

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 5 a.m. cyclone bulletin that Ofel was last located 215 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela, packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 205 kph.

It added that Ofel was moving northwestward at 30 kph.

As Ofel gained further strength, approaching the super typhoon category, Pagasa said it is not ruling out the possibility of raising Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 over certain areas.

READ: Ofel nears super typhoon category; Cagayan under Signal No. 4

For now, however, the state weather agency hoisted TCWS No. 4 over the northeastern portion of Cagayan, where typhoon-force winds ranging from 118 kph to 184 kph are expected. Pagasa likewise placed many Luzon areas under TCWS Nos. 3, 2, and 1.

Hence, certain Luzon regions, provinces, and towns declared “walang pasok” or class suspensions for November 14, as follows:

Cordillera Administrative Region

• Lacub, Abra: All levels, public and private
• Licuan-Baay, Abra: All levels, public only
• Malibcong, Abra: All levels, public and private
• Apayao province: Preschool to senior high school, public and private
• Aguinaldo, Ifugao: Preschool to senior high school, public and private
• Paracelis, Mountain Province: Preschool to senior high school, public and private

Cagayan Valley

• Ballesteros, Cagayan: Preschool to senior high school, public and private
• Camalaniugan, Cagayan: All levels, public and private
• Gonzaga, Cagayan: All levels, public and private; until November 15
• Lal-lo, Cagayan: All levels, public and private
• Solana, Cagayan: All levels, public and private
• Angadanan, Isabela: All levels, public and private
• Roxas, Isabela: All levels, public and private
• Santiago City, Isabela: All levels, public and private; until November 15
• Quirino province: All levels, public and private

Also for Thursday, Pagasa raised a gale warning over the northern and eastern seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon due to Ofel.

READ: Ofel landfall Nov 14 in Cagayan or Isabela, as new storm nears

Ofel is forecast to track northwestward over the Philippine Sea and is expected to make landfall along the eastern coast of Cagayan or northern Isabela by Thursday afternoon.

It will continue to intensify within 12 hours and possibly make landfall during its peak intensity, according to Pagasa.

agasa further said that after landfall, the typhoon is projected to shift its path from north-northwestward to north-northeastward and cross the waters west of Batanes by Friday, Nov. 15.

Ofel is then projected to turn northeastward starting Saturday, passing over the sea east of Taiwan and heading toward the Ryukyu Islands in the later part of the forecast period.