Tropical depression "Ofel" will likely leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) between tonight (Oct. 15) and tomorrow morning (Oct. 16) as a low pressure area (LPA).
In its weather bulletin issued at 4 p.m. Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) last observed tropical depression "Ofel" at 340 kilometers (km) west-northwest of Tanauan City, Batangas or 250 km west of Subic, Zambales.
It has maintained its maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 55 kph, but may weaken or dissipate while on its way outside the PAR, weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said.
"Ofel will move northwest or west-northwest over the West Philippine Sea tonight (Oct. 15) and may leave the country's area of responsibility between tonight and tomorrow morning (Oct. 16)," he noted.
Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may still prevail over Kalayaan group of islands, Palawan, and Oriental Mindoro due to the southwest monsoon or "habagat."
Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales will also have scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the northeasterly surface wind flow.
Meanwhile, the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.
Ordinario said PAGASA is also monitoring a cloud cluster east of Visayas and Mindanao as of Thursday afternoon.
He said they will closely monitor the cloud cluster in the coming days to determine if it will develop into another LPA.