Super Typhoon “Ofel” (international name: Usagi) weakened after making landfall in Baggao, Cagayan at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Ofel has been downgraded to a typhoon, though it remains a destructive cyclone, packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near its center and gusts reaching 240 kph.
In its 2 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA lifted Wind Signal No. 5, but Signal No. 4 remains in effect over Babuyan Islands, northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Santa Teresita, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca) and northeastern Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan), where “significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds” are likely.
Signal No. 3 is in place over Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, northern, central, and eastern portions of Isabela (San Pablo, Delfin Albano, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, San Mariano, Palanan), northern Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Luna, Pudtol, Calanasan, Kabugao), and northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Dumalneg), with “moderate to significant impacts” from storm-force winds expected.
Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 is up over 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), the northeastern portion of Quirino (Maddela), the rest of Apayao, Kalinga, northeastern part of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman), eastern Mountain Province (Paracelis), eastern Ifugao (Alfonso Lista), and the rest of Ilocos Norte, where gale-force winds could cause “minor to moderate impacts.”
Areas under Signal No. 1 are the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Mountain Province, the rest of Ifugao, the rest of Abra, northern Benguet (Bokod, Mankayan, Kapangan, Atok, Kabayan, Kibungan, Bakun, Buguias, Tublay), Ilocos Sur, northern part of La Union (Luna, Sudipen, Bangar, Santol, San Gabriel, Bagulin, Bacnotan, Balaoan, San Juan), and northern Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Dilasag, Maria Aurora), with “minimal to minor impacts” from strong winds.
After landfall, Ofel will continue to move over the northeastern portion of mainland Luzon in the next few hours. It may make another landfall or close approach to Babuyan Islands.
PAGASA warned that, regardless of the exact landfall location, hazardous conditions could still affect areas outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone.
Intense to torrential rainfall (over 200 millimeters) may persist in Cagayan and Isabela over the next 24 hours.
Heavy to intense rains (100 to 200 millimeters) could also affect Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Quirino, and Aurora, while moderate to heavy rainfall (50 to 100 millimeters) may prevail over Abra, Ifugao, and Nueva Vizcaya.
The weather bureau warned that these conditions could lead to flooding and landslides, particularly in areas highly susceptible to such hazards and those with significant previous rainfall.