MANILA, Philippines — Signal No. 1 may be raised over parts of Cagayan Valley either late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning as “Ofel” intensified into a severe tropical storm and may even reach typhoon category, the state-run weather agency said.
Nathaniel Servando, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) administrator, said the highest storm signal that could be raised may be Signal No. 4.
Estimated at 780 kilometers (kms) east of Virac, Catanduanes, Ofel is moving west-northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph), packing maximum sustained winds of 95kph near the center and gustiness of up to 115kph, Pagasa said in its 5 p.m. bulletin.
It may make landfall along the east coast of Cagayan or Isabela on Thursday afternoon or evening, the national weather agency said.
“Regardless of the position of the landfall point, it must be emphasized that hazards on land and coastal waters may still be experienced in areas outside the landfall point or forecast confidence cone,” said the Pagasa chief.
The state weather bureau said Ofel was predicted to intensify in the next three days and reach typhoon category by Wednesday afternoon or evening.
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