‘Ofel’ to briefly exit PAR Friday afternoon, might return Saturday — PAGASA

By Brian Campued

Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi) has weakened into a severe tropical storm over the Luzon Strait as it nears the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (PAGASA) said Friday.

As of 10:00 a.m., the storm was located 195 kilometers west of Itbayat, Batanes, moving north-northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour.

Ofel packs maximum sustained winds of 110 kph and gustiness of up to 135 kph.

Due to this, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is still up in Batanes, while parts of Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte remain under TCWS No. 1:

• Northern portion of Cagayan (Pamplona, Claveria, Abulug, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Ballesteros)
• Babuyan Islands
• Northern portion of Apayao (Luna, Santa Marcela, Calanasan)
• Northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Bangui, Dumalneg, Burgos, Pasuquin, Vintar, Bacarra, Piddig, Carasi)

Both Ofel and Typhoon Pepito are expected to bring heavy to intense rains in parts of Luzon until the weekend.

PAGASA also warns against sea travel as a gale warning is still hoisted over the northern seaboards of Batanes, the northern coast of Ilocos Norte, and Babuyan Islands, with waves of up to 4.5 meters high.

Based on the cyclone’s track forecast, Ofel will briefly exit the PAR Friday afternoon and re-enter on Saturday as it moves toward southern Taiwan.

—iro