Super Typhoon Ofel to bring heavy rains over Luzon

Pagasa weather update. GRAPHICS BY INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Parts of Northern Luzon will experience heavy rains on Thursday afternoon due to Super Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi), according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

In its 11 a.m. advisory, Pagasa said a yellow rainfall warning was raised over Divilacan, Maconacon, and Palanan in Isabela province.

According to Pagasa, areas under a yellow rainfall warning may experience downpours between 7.5 millimeters (mm) and 15 mm, with possible flooding and landslides in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas.

Pagasa also said moderate to heavy rains, ranging from 2.5 mm to greater than 7.5 mm, may affect the following areas:

• The rest of Isabela
• Cagayan including the Babuyan Group of Islands
• Apayao
• Kalinga (Pinukpuk, Rizal, City of Tabuk, Balbalan)
• Mountain Province (Paracelis)
• Ifugao (Alfonso Lista)
• Ilocos Norte
• Abra (Tineg, Lagayan, Danglas, San Juan, La Paz, Licuan Baay, Lacub, Malibcong, Dolores, Lagangilang)
• Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao)

The state weather bureau said rains may persist in these areas within two to three hours and may also affect nearby regions.

Meanwhile, light to moderate to at times heavy rains, ranging from 2.5 mm to 7.5 mm, are expected over Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, the rest of Ifugao, Batanes, and the rest of Aurora within the next two to three hours.

The weather agency advised the public to take precautionary measures.

Based on Pagasa’s latest forecast track, Ofel was last located over the coastal waters of Divilacan, Isabela or 135 kilometers northeast of Echague, Isabela.

It was moving west northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers near the super typhoon’s center and a gustiness of up to 230 kph.

State weather specialist Veronica Torres said Ofel may make landfall between noon and 5 p.m. Thursday in the vicinity of Cagayan.

READ: Storm surge warning up in 6 Luzon provinces due to Super Typhoon Ofel