Ofel weakens ahead of expected landfall in Babuyan Islands

Image from DOST / Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Ofel continues to weaken Thursday before its projected landfall in Babuyan Islands, state meteorologists said.

As of 5 p.m., Ofel was estimated based on all available data in the vicinity of Gonzaga, Cagayan, or in the vicinity of Isca, Cagayan, packing 165 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 275 (kph).

“Ofel has started to weaken due to increasing interaction with the landmass of Luzon,” Pagasa said in its advisory. “It will continue to weaken throughout the forecast period due to frictional effects of land, as well as the increasingly unfavorable environment over the Luzon Strait and the sea east of Taiwan.”

The typhoon will continue crossing the northeastern portion of mainland Luzon.

“It will then continue moving northwestward and pass close or make landfall in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands tonight before turning northward tomorrow (November 15) over the sea west of Batanes, then northeastward over the sea east of Taiwan during the weekend,” it added.

To date, the highest TCWS is now at Signal No. 4. Which brings  118 to 184 kph wind speed in the following areas, which Pagasa said causes “significant to severe threat to life and property.”

• Babuyan Islands
• The northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Santa Teresita, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira)

TCWS No. 3 was raised in these areas, which will see 89 to 117 kph wind speed, causing moderate to significant threat to life and property.

• Batanes
• The rest of Cagayan
• The northern portion of Isabela (San Pablo, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Maconacon, Delfin Albano), the northern portion of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Luna, Pudtol, Calanasan, Kabugao)
• The northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Dumalneg)

These areas are under TCWS No. 2, where winds of greater than 62 kph and up to 88 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours, causing minor to moderate impacts to life and property:

• The western and eastern portions of Isabela (Quezon, Quirino, Mallig, San Manuel, Aurora, Cabatuan, City of Cauayan, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Gamu, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Luna, Roxas, San Mariano, Palanan, Ilagan City, Divilacan, Dinapigue)
• The rest of Apayao
• Kalinga
• The northeastern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman)
• The eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis)
• The rest of Ilocos Norte

These areas are under TCWS No. 1, causing 39 to 61 kph wind speed, which may lead to minimal to minor threat to life and property:

• The rest of Isabela, Quirino, the northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Ambaguio, Solano, Bayombong, Quezon, Bagabag, Diadi, Villaverde, Dupax del Norte, Bambang)
• The rest of Mountain Province, the rest of Ifugao, the rest of Abra, the northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Kabayan, Kibungan, Bakun, Buguias)
• Ilocos Sur
• The northern portion of La Union (Luna, Sudipen, Bangar, Santol, Balaoan)
• The northern portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dilasag, Dipaculao)