Ofel still inside PAR; to further weaken as it moves toward Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Ofel (international name: Usagi) remained inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Saturday morning following its re-entry the night before.

However, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said it would further reduce its strength as it moves toward Taiwan, whose mountainous terrain will make the atmosphere unfavorable for Ofel.

Pagas said Ofel will likely diminish into a “remnant low” by Sunday, November 17, or even earlier.

Based on the 5 a.m. cyclone bulletin of Pagasa, Ofel was last spotted 240 kilometers northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It was slowly moving north-northeast, it added.

READ: Weakened Ofel re-enters PAR

In the 11 p.m. cyclone bulletin of Pagasa, the storm was carrying maximum sustained winds of 85 kph and gustiness of 105 kph when it reentered the PAR.

“Ofel is forecast to further weaken due to the increasingly unfavorable environment and interaction with the mountainous terrain of Taiwan, possibly downgrading into a remnant low tomorrow or earlier,” the state weather agency said.

Tropical Storm Ofel is seen to move northeastward this Saturday, passing through southern Taiwan and emerging over the sea east of Taiwan by early Sunday morning.