Ofel makes landfall as rains, gusty winds expected over Bicol Region, nearby provinces

Tropical Depression Ofel makes landfall in the vicinity of Can-avid in eastern Samar early Wednesday morning, PAGASA reported.

Moderate to heavy rains will be experienced in Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Marinduque, Romblon, Quezon, Batangas, and Mindoro Provinces.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will also be experienced over Metro Manila, Aurora, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, and the rest of CALABARZON due to Ofel and over most of Mindanao due to the southwest monsoon.

The residents in the area are also warned there may be very light to light damage to structures and vegetation due to strong winds.

Mindanao, Palawan, Metro Manila, Aurora, Bulacan, and the rest of Visayas Cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms also due to Ofel and the southwest monsoon with the possibility that flash floods or landslides may occur due to light to moderate to at times heavy rains.

The rest of Luzon Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers due to localized thunderstorms with possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

As of 4 a.m., the center of Tropical Depression Ofel was estimated based on all available data in the vicinity of Bobon, Northern Samar and moving West Northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

On the forecast track, Ofel will cross the Samar Island and emerge over the Samar Sea this morning.

Afterwards, the tropical depression will move west-northwestward over the inland seas of Southern Luzon and may pass close or over Masbate, Romblon, and Mindoro Provinces and may emerge over the West Philippine Sea on Thursday morning and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon.

Ofel is forecast to remain a tropical depression while crossing the Samar Island-Southern Luzon area but crossing Mindoro Island on Thursday morning is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm.

Areas under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal (TCWS) No. 1 are:

• Southern portion of Batangas (Batangas City,Ibaan,Padre Garcia,Rosario,San Juan,Taysan,Lobo)
• southern portion of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Calauag, Alabat, Perez, Quezon, San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Mulanay, Buenavista, Lopez, General Luna, Gumaca, Macalelon, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Atimonan, Agdangan, Padre Burgos, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Candelaria, Sariaya, Tiaong, San Antonio, Tayabas City, Dolores, Catanauan)
• Burias Islands
• Northern Samar,
• Eastern Samar,
• Samar,
• Biliran,
• northern portion of Leyte (Tabango, Leyte, San Isidro, Calubian, Capoocan, Carigara, Jaro, Pastrana, Dagami, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Palo, Santa Fe, Alangalang, Tacloban City, Babatngon, San Miguel, Barugo, Tunga)

Strong- to near gale-force winds will be experienced in areas under TCWS No. 1 during the passage of the tropical depression.

Occasional gusts associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow enhanced by Ofel and Tropical Storm Nangka, which is outside PAR, may be experienced over Batanes, the northern and eastern portions of Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands), the northern portions of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and Quezon, the eastern portion of Isabela, and Aurora, especially in coastal and mountainous areas.

Gale Warning is in effect over the seaboards of Batanes and Ilocos Norte and the northern seaboard of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands due to rough seas associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow. Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small seacrafts.

Moderate to rough seas due to Ofel will be experienced over the eastern seaboards of Luzon and Visayas in the next 24 hours, especially in areas where TCWS No. 1 is in effect. Those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out to sea over these areas.

Sunrise will be at 5:47 while sunset will be at 5:37 p.m. -- BAP, GMA News