‘Ofel’ further weakens as it threatens Babuyan Islands

State weather bureau PAGASA said Typhoon ‘Ofel’ is expected to make a landfall in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands this Thursday night, even as it continues to weaken due to increasing interaction with the landmass of Luzon.

“Note that hazards on land and coastal waters may still be experienced in areas outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone. Furthermore, the track may still shift within the limit of the forecast confidence cone,” PAGASA noted in its 5:00 p.m. advisory.

‘Ofel’ was last monitored hovering over Gonzaga, Cagayan. It was moving west northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 275 km/h.

The entire Cagayan province continues to experience torrential rains up to 200 millimeters. The provinces of Batanes, Isabela, Ilocos Norte and Apayao are also dealing with heavy to intense rains amid Ofel’s attack.

“There is a high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights exceeding 3.0 meters in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, and northern Aurora,” PAGASA noted.

As such, PAGASA maintained its tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS) over the following affected areas across northern Luzon:

· TCWS No. 4  – Babuyan Islands and 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  – 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), and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Dumalneg)

· TCWS No. 2  – 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), and the rest of Ilocos Norte

· TCWS No. 1  – 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), and the northern portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dilasag, Dipaculao)