Signal No. 1 still up over Batangas, Laguna, Quezon as Ofel heads toward Oriental Mindoro

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still raised over Batangas, Laguna and Quezon as Tropical Depression Ofel heads towards Oriental Mindoro, PAGASA said Wednesday evening.

In its 8 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the weather bureau said Ofel will make landfall over Oriental Mindoro on Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

Under TCWS No. 1 as of 8 p.m. were:

• Batangas
• the southern portion of Laguna (Luisiana, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Rizal, San Pablo City, Calauan, Alaminos, Los Baños, Bay, Magdalena)
• the central and southern portions of Quezon (Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres, Mulanay, San Francisco, Catanauan, Lopez, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, Perez, Atimonan, Tayabas City, Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Gumaca, General Luna, Macalelon, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio)

The center of Ofel was seen 35 kilometers north of Romblon, Romblon at 7 p.m. It is moving westward at 15 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

Hazards

PAGASA said Ofel will bring moderate to heavy, with at times, intense rains over CALABARZON, Camarines Norte, Marinduque, Romblon and Mindoro provinces.

Meanwhile, light to moderate, with at times, heavy rains will be experienced over Central Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Metro Manila, Palawan, Cagayan, Isabela and the rest of Bicol Region due to Ofel and the southwest monsoon.

PAGASA advised affected residents to prepare for possible flash floods and landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall.
Moreover, strong to near gale force winds are expected in areas under TCWS No. 1 during the passage of Ofel.

Occasional gusts associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow can also be expected 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.

PAGASA also said gale warning is still 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.

The weather agency said sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small sea crafts.

Further, moderate to rough seas can be expected over the eastern seaboards of Luzon and Visayas in the next 24 hours, especially in areas where TCWS No. 1 is in effect.

PAGASA said Ofel is likely to emerge over the West Philippine Sea on Thursday morning and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday morning or afternoon.

It added that Ofel is expected to remain a tropical depression while crossing the Southern Luzon area. However, it may intensify into a tropical storm after emerging over the West Philippine Sea.—LDF, GMA News