Ofel nears super typhoon category; Cagayan under Signal No. 4

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi) is approaching the super typhoon category, based on the state weather agency’s latest bulletin early Thursday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported in its 5 a.m. cyclone update that Ofel was last located 215 kilometers east of Echague, Isabela, packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 205 kph.

It added that Ofel was moving northwestward at 30 kph.

As Ofel gained further strength, Pagasa said it is not ruling out the possibility of raising TCWS No. 5 over certain areas.

READ: Ofel landfall Nov 14 in Cagayan or Isabela, as new storm nears

For now, however, it raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 in the northeastern portion of Cagayan, where typhoon-force winds ranging from 118 kph to 184 kph, which could cause significant to severe threat to life and property, may be experienced.

Pagasa also hoisted TCWS No. 3 over the following areas:

• Northwestern, central, and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Pamplona, Abulug, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Lasam, Alcala, Amulung, Iguig, Santo Niño, Buguey) including Babuyan Islands
• Northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, San Pablo, Divilacan, Palanan)
• Northern portion of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Luna, Pudtol, Calanasan)

These areas were advised to prepare for incoming storm-force winds of 89 kph to 117 kph, which poses moderate to significant threat to life and property.

The state weather agency likewise declared TCWS No. 2 in the following areas:

• Batanes
• Rest of Cagayan
• Northwestern and southeastern portions of Isabela (Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Tumauini, Ilagan City, Delfin Albano, Quezon, San Mariano, Dinapigue, Quirino, Mallig)
• Rest of Apayao
• Northern portion of Kalinga (Pinukpuk, Rizal, City of Tabuk, Balbalan)
• Northeastern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong)
• Northern and central portions of Ilocos Norte (Carasi, Vintar, Burgos, Adams, Pagudpud, Bangui, Dumalneg, Pasuquin, Bacarra, Piddig, Nueva Era, Solsona, Dingras, Marcos, Banna, Sarrat, Laoag City, San Nicolas, City of Batac, Paoay)

Gale-force winds ranging from 62 kph to 88 kph may be experienced in areas under TCWS No. 2, and Pagasa urged the affected population to take caution against possible minor to moderate threat to life and property.

READ: Typhoon Ofel may whip up storm surge in Northern Luzon areas

Meanwhile, areas under TCWS No. 1 were:

• Rest of Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• The rest of Abra
• The rest of Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Northern portion of Benguet (Bokod, Mankayan, Kapangan, Atok, Kabayan, Kibungan, Bakun, Buguias, Tublay)
• Rest of Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• Northern portion of La Union (Luna, Sudipen, Bangar, Santol, San Gabriel, Bagulin, Bacnotan, Balaoan, San Juan)
• Northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria
• Aurora, Baler, San Luis)

Places under TCWS No. 1 are expected to see strong winds of 39 kph to 61 kph, which cause minimal to minor threat to life and property.

Ofel is forecast to track northwestward over the Philippine Sea and expected to make landfall along the eastern coast of Cagayan or northern Isabela by Thursday afternoon, Nov. 14.

It will continue to intensify within 12 hours and possibly make landfall during its peak intensity, according to Pagasa.

“Ofel will then emerge over Babuyan Channel by Thursday night while making another landfall or passing close to Babuyan Islands,” the state weather bureau added.

Pagasa further said that after landfall, the typhoon is projected to shift its path from north-northwestward to north-northeastward, and cross the waters west of Batanes by Friday, Nov. 15.

Ofel is then projected to turn northeastward starting Saturday, passing over the sea east of Taiwan and heading toward the Ryukyu Islands in the later part of the forecast period.

For Thursday, Pagasa hoisted a gale warning over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon due to Ofel.