Signal No. 4 up over 3 areas as Ofel weakens into typhoon after landfall

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 was raised over three areas in Luzon as Ofel weakened into a typhoon after making landfall in Baggao, Cagayan on Thursday afternoon, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 2 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals are hoisted in the following areas:

TCWS No. 4

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

TCWS No. 3

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

TCWS No. 2

• 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, Dinapigue)
• 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

TCWS No. 1

• the rest of Isabela
• 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 portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Dilasag, Maria Aurora)

PAGASA said Ofel . previously a super typhoon, was moving west northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) and packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph.

“After making landfall over Baggao, Cagayan at 1:30 PM today, OFEL will continue crossing the northeastern portion of mainland Luzon this afternoon,” PAGASA said.

Ofel may make its second landfall over or pass close to Babuyan Islands on Thursday evening, according to the weather bureau.

“It will then continue moving northwestward and pass close or make landfall in the vicinity of Babuyan Islands tonight before turning northward tomorrow (15 November) over the sea west of Batanes, then northeastward over the sea east of Taiwan during the weekend,” it said.  —KBK, GMA Integrated News