Tropical Storm ‘Ofel’ (international name: Usagi) has further strengthened into a typhoon, the state weather bureau said on Wednesday.
According to the latest 5 AM advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Typhoon ‘Ofel’ is moving westward at 25 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kilometers per hour.
Its center was last estimated at 475 km east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 595 km east of Daet, Camarines Norte.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is raised over Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the northern and central portions of Isabela, Apayao, the eastern portion of Kalinga, the easternmost portion of Mountain Province, and the easternmost portion of Ifugao.
According to PAGASA, ‘Ofel’ is forecast to move west northwestward to northwestward over the Philippine Sea before making landfall along the east coast of Cagayan or Isabela tomorrow afternoon. It will then emerge over the Luzon Strait on Friday and turn more north northwestward while slowing down before behaving erratically during the weekend.
“Two scenarios are emerging: a west northwestward track during the land crossing that is further south of the present scenario and a recurving track to the right of the present forecast which will bring ‘Ofel’ mainly offshore of Northern Luzon. Given these, further changes in the track forecast are expected,” it warned.
Typhoon ‘Ofel’ is forecast to steadily intensify within 24 hours and possibly make landfall during its peak intensity.
