Heavy rains may prevail over most parts of the country until Thursday morning due to Tropical Depression "Ofel" as it continues to move across Southern Luzon.

In its weather bulletin issued Wednesday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ofel will bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Bicol Region, CALABARZON, Aurora, Marinduque, Romblon, and Mindoro Provinces.

While light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced in Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the rest of Central Luzon also due to the tropical depression.

As of 2 p.m., Wednesday, PAGASA said Ofel is moving over inland seas of Southern Luzon and may pass close to or over Romblon and Mindoro provinces after it made its third landfall in Burias Island, Masbate at 12 p.m.

Meanwhile, though not directly affected by Ofel, moderate to heavy rains will prevail over parts of Mindanao particularly in Caraga, Davao Region, and Sarangani caused by the southwest monsoon or "habagat" which will also bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over the rest of the Mindanao island.

The state weather bureau warned residents in areas affected by Ofel and the southwest monsoon that flooding, including flashflood, as well as rain-induced landslides, may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards. 

According to PAGASA, strong- to near gale-force winds will be experienced in areas under tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 during the passage of the tropical depression.

The areas placed under storm signal number 1 as of 2 p.m. Friday, are Batangas, the southern portion of Laguna (Luisiana, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Rizal, San Pablo City, Calauan, Alaminos, Los Baños, Bay, Magdalena), and 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), Calamian Islands, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate (including Ticao and Burias Islands).

Occasional gusts associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow enhanced by Ofel and Tropical Storm "Nangka" (formerly "Nika"), which is now outside the Philippine area of responsibility, may also be experienced 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.

PAGASAL also raised on Wednesday a gale warning 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. 

While moderate to rough seas will be experienced over the eastern seaboards of Luzon and Visayas in the next 24 hours, especially in areas where storm signal number 1 is in effect due to Ofel, PAGASA added.

The agency warned that sea travel is risky, especially for small sea crafts, over seaboards where a gale warning was raised due to rough to very rough sea conditions and wave height of up to 4.5 meters.