Image from DOST / Pagasa
MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Ofel continues to weaken as it approaches Babuyan Islands on Thursday night, according to state meteorologists.
As of 8 p.m., Ofel was estimated, based on all available data, over the coastal waters of Santa Teresita, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour with gustiness of up to 255 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s (Pagasa) update.
In Pagasa’s 5 p.m. update, Ofel was packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kph and gustiness of up to 275 kph.
“Ofel will continue moving northwestward and pass close or make landfall in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands tonight before turning northward tomorrow (15 November) over the sea west of Batanes, then northeastward towards Taiwan during the weekend,” Pagasa said in its advisory.
Moreover, Ofel is forecast to 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.”
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, Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Santa Praxedes)
TCWS No. 3 were 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, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Maconacon), 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, Delfin Albano, Tumauin)
- 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
- The northern portion of Quirino (Cabarroguis, Diffun, Saguday, Maddela, Aglipay), the northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Solano, Bagabag, Diadi, Villaverde)
- The rest of Mountain Province, Ifugao, the rest of Abra, the northern portion of Benguet (Mankayan, Bakun, Buguias)
- Ilocos Sur
- The northern portion of La Union (Sudipen, Bangar)
- The northern portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dilasag)