Pepito now a typhoon, Ofel weakens into severe tropical storm

Severe Tropical Storm Pepito intensified into a typhoon on Friday morning ahead of its expected landfall, according to state weather bureau PAGASA.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said Typhoon Ofel weakened into a severe tropical storm.

“TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE for Severe Tropical Storm OFEL {USAGI} #OfelPH and Typhoon PEPITO {MAN-YI} #PepitoPH as of 10:00 AM today,” PAGASA said on Facebook.

Pepito was last spotted 675 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar moving westward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph). It was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.

LIVE BLOG: Ofel and Pepito updates

Ofel, meanwhile, was monitored 190 kilometers northwest of Calayan, Cagayan moving north northwestward at 20 kph. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph.

Signal No. 1 is hoisted over the following areas:

Luzon

• Catanduanes
• the eastern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Talisay, Daet, Mercedes, Basud)
• the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Presentacion, San Jose, Lagonoy, Tinambac, Goa, Siruma,Tigaon, Sagñay, Calabanga, Naga City, Magarao, Bombon, Pili, Ocampo, Iriga City, Buhi)
• the eastern portion of Albay (Rapu-Rapu, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Legazpi City, Malinao, Manito, Tiwi)
• the eastern and southern portions of Sorsogon (Juban, City of Sorsogon, Barcelona, Bulusan, Magallanes, Gubat, Santa Magdalena, Casiguran, Bulan, Irosin, Matnog, Prieto Diaz, Castilla)

Visayas

• Northern Samar
• the northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad, Maslog, Oras, Dolores, Can-Avid)
• the northeastern portion of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan)

Classes and work in government offices for Friday, November 15, 2024, have been suspended in some areas due to the possible effects of Severe Tropical Storm Pepito, which entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility Thursday evening.