MANILA, Philippines — Signal No. 1 has been raised over at least six Northern Luzon provinces as “Ofel” intensified into a typhoon which may make landfall over Cagayan or Isabela on Thursday morning, the state weather bureau said on Wednesday.
Affected areas are Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, the northern and central portions of Isabela (Maconacon, San Pablo, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Divilacan, Palanan, Santo Tomas, Alicia, San Mateo, Aurora, Quezon, San Mariano, Naguilian, Dinapigue, Roxas, San Guillermo, Luna, Delfin Albano, City of Cauayan, Ilagan City, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, Tumauini, Reina Mercedes, San Manuel, Cabatuan, Quirino, Gamu, Mallig and Burgos), Apayao, the eastern portion of Kalinga (Rizal, City of Tabuk and Pinukpuk), the easternmost portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis), and the easternmost portion of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista).
The highest storm signal which may be hoisted would be Signal No. 4, Nathaniel Servando, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) administrator, said.
Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. bulletin that Ofel was estimated at 475 kilometers (kms) east Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 595kms east of Daet, Camarines Norte.
Moving westward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph), Ofel has maximum sustained winds of 120kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150kph.
The typhoon will likely move west-northwestward to northwestward over the Philippine Sea before making landfall along the east coast of Cagayan or Isabela Thursday afternoon, the state-run weather agency said.
“It will then emerge over the Luzon Strait on Friday and turn more north-northwestward while slowing down before behaving erratically during the weekend,” according to the Pagasa chief.
He warned that hazards on land and coastal waters may still be experienced in areas outside the landfall point or forecast confidence cone.
Pagasa said it has also been monitoring the movement of Tropical Storm “Man-yi” (international name), located some 2, 210kms east of Eastern Visayas outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be experiencing isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms, it added.
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