Ofel now a super typhoon; Signal No. 5 up over two Cagayan towns

Typhoon Ofel intensified into a super typhoon on Thursday morning, prompting state weather bureau PAGASA to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 over a portion of mainland Cagayan.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals are hoisted in the following areas:

TCWS No. 5 

• the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga)

TCWS No. 4

• the southeastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Is.)
• the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Santa Teresita, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca)
• the northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan)

TCWS No. 3

• the rest of Babuyan Islands
• the rest of Cagayan
• the northern, central, and southeastern portions of Isabela (San Pablo, Delfin Albano, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, San Mariano, Dinapigue)
• the northern portion of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Luna, Pudtol, Calanasan, Kabugao)
• the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Dumalneg)

TCWS No. 2

• Batanes
• the western and southern portions of Isabela (Quezon, Quirino, Mallig, San Manuel, Aurora, Cabatuan, City of Cauayan, Benito Soliven, Naguilian, Gamu, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Luna, Roxas, Angadanan, Alicia, San Guillermo, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, San Mateo, San Isidro)
• the northeastern portion of Quirino (Maddela)
• the rest of Apayao
• Kalinga
• the northeastern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman)
• the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis)
• the eastern portion of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista)
• the rest of Ilocos Norte
• the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag)

TCWS No. 1

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

Several local government units have suspended classes for the day due to Ofel.

Movement

PAGASA said Ofel was last spotted at 165 kilometers east southeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan moving northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph) and packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.

Ofel may make landfall over Cagayan or northern Isabela on Thursday afternoon, the weather bureau added.

“OFEL is forecast to move northwestward over the Philippine Sea before making landfall along the eastern coast of Cagayan or northern Isabela this afternoon. It will then emerge over Babuyan Channel tonight while making another landfall or passing close to Babuyan Islands,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA said Ofel may possibly make landfall as a super typhoon. 

“OFEL will then turn north northwestward to north northeastward over the sea west of Batanes by tomorrow (November 15) before turning northeastward beginning Saturday (16 November) over the sea east of Taiwan towards Ryukyu Islands by the remaining forecast period,” it added.

Storm surge, rains

PAGASA, meanwhile, warned of a “moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge” in Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, and northern Aurora.

“There is a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights reaching 1.0 to 3.0 m in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, and northern Aurora,” PAGASA said.

From Thursday to Friday morning, PAGASA said intense to torrential rains are expected over Cagayan and Isabela.

“Widespread incidents of severe flooding and landslides expected,” it said, adding heavy to intense rains will affect Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and Kalinga.

“Numerous flooding events are likely, especially in areas that are urbanized, low lying, or near rivers. Landslide likely in moderate to highly susceptible areas,” PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains will be experienced over Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and Aurora.

“Localized flooding is possible mainly in areas that are urbanized, low lying, or near rivers. Landslide possible in highly susceptible areas,” PAGASA said.

Due to typhoon-force winds, areas under TCWS No. 5 are expected to encounter extreme impacts while those under TCWS No. 4 may face significant to severe impacts.

TCWS No. 3 areas may experience moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds.

For areas under TCWS No. 2, minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds are expected. 

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 areas are also expected to experience minimal to minor impacts from strong winds.

Gale warning

A Gale Warning was raised over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon as well as the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, according to PAGASA.

Very rough or high seas (from 4.5 to 12.0 meters) are expected over the following coastal waters:

• Up to 12.0 m: The seaboard of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Up to 8.0 m: The seaboard of Isabela
• Up to 7.0 m: The seaboard of Batanes
• Up to 4.5 m: The seaboard of northern Aurora; the northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte

“Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels. All mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside,” PAGASA said.

Rough seas (from 3.0 to 3.5 meters) may be experienced in the following areas:

• Up to 3.5 m: The remaining seaboard of Aurora; the seaboard of northern Quezon; the northern and eastern seaboard of Polillo Islands; the western seaboard of Ilocos Norte
• Up to 3.0 m: The northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; the seaboards of Camarines Norte; the northern seaboard of Camarines Sur

“Mariners of small seacrafts, including all types of motorbancas, are advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels,” PAGASA said.

Moderate seas (from 2.0 to 2.5 meters) may be encountered over the following coastal waters:

• Up to 2.5 m: The eastern seaboard of Quezon including the rest of Polillo Islands; the eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon
• Up to 2.0 m: The remaining seaboard of Ilocos Region; the remaining seaboards of Catanduanes and Camarines Sur; the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar; the eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar.

“Mariners of motorbancas and similarly-sized vessels are advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigation under these conditions,” PAGASA said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News