OFEL (international name Usagi) has intensified into a super typhoon, the weather bureau said Thursday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ofel is packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph.
It was located 165 km. east-northeast of Echague, Isabela or 165 km. east-southeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan as of 7 a.m.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 is hoisted over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga).
TCWS No. 4 is hoisted over the southeastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Camiguin Island), the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Santa Teresita, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Gattaran, Baggao, and Peñablanca) and the northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, and Palanan).
Areas under TCWS Nos. 5 and 4 will experience typhoon-force winds.
Storm-force winds will prevail in areas under 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, and Dinapigue), the northern portion of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Luna, Pudtol, Calanasan, and Kabugao), and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, and Dumalneg).
Gale-force winds is likely in areas under 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, and 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, and Daguioman), the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis), the eastern portion of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista), the rest of Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag).
Strong winds will prevail in areas under 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, and Tublay), Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union (Luna, Sudipen, Bangar, Santol, San Gabriel, Bagulin, Bacnotan, Balaoan, and San Juan), and the northern and central portions of Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler, and San Luis).
There is a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights reaching 1 meter to 3 meters in the next 48 hours over the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan including the Babuyan Islands, Isabela, and northern Aurora.
Gale warning is hoisted over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon. Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.
Ofel is still forecast to make landfall over the eastern coast of Cagayan or northern Isabela this afternoon, PAGASA said. (PNA)
