Super Typhoon Ofel track and intensity. – Ofel would continue to “endanger” Cagayan Valley, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), which predicted its landfall to occur around Thursday afternoon (November 14, 2024). Photo from Pagasa
MANILA, Philippines — Super Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi) would continue to “endanger” Cagayan Valley, according to the state weather agency, which predicted its landfall to occur around Thursday afternoon.
In the 11 a.m. cyclone bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Ofel was last located over the coastal waters of Divilacan, Isabela, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) with gustiness of 230 kph.
Ofel is forecast to move northwestward over the Philippine Sea before making landfall along the eastern coast of Cagayan, it added.
READ: LIVE UPDATES: Super Typhoon Ofel
Pagasa weather specialist Veronica Torres earlier told INQUIRER.net that the super typhoon is anticipated to make landfall between noon and 5 p.m., November 14, in the vicinity of Cagayan.
“‘Ofel maintains its strength as it continues to endanger the Cagayan Valley region,” Pagasa said in the 11 a.m. advisory.
Ofel is predicted to either make a second landfall or pass close to Babuyan Islands later.
Also earlier on Thursday, Pagasa issued a storm surge warning in six Northern Luzon provinces due to Super Typhoon Ofel.
Pagasa said storm surges between 1.0 meter and 3.0 meters are likely to occur within the next 48 hours as Ofel continued to gain more power.
It explained that a storm surge height of 2.1 to 3.0 m could cause moderate to significant damage, Pagasa noted, while a storm surge height of 1.0 to 2.0 m could cause minimal to moderate damage.
Pagasa advised residents in low-lying coastal communities to stay away from the coast or beach, cancel all marine activities, and closely monitor updates from the weather agency.