Typhoon ‘Ofel’ (international name: Usagi) further intensifies and is nearing super typhoon category, the state weather bureau said on Thursday.
According to the latest 5 AM advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Typhoon ‘Ofel’ is moving west northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 205 kilometers per hour.
Its center was last estimated at 215 km east of Echague, Isabela.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 is raised over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, while TCWS No. 3 is assigned to the northwestern, central, and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the northeastern portion of Isabela, and the northern portion of Apayao.
TCWS No. 2 is hoisted over Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, the northwestern and southeastern portions of Isabela, the northeastern portion of Abra, and the northern and central portions of Ilocos Norte.
Finally, TCWS No. 1 covers the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Abra, the rest of Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union, and the northern and central portions of Aurora.
According to PAGASA, ‘Ofel’ is forecast to move northwestward over the Philippine Sea before making landfall along the eastern coast of Cagayan or northern Isabela this afternoon. It will then emerge over Babuyan Channel tonight while making another landfall or passing close to Babuyan Islands.
“Ofel will continue to intensify within 12 hours and possibly make landfall during its peak intensity. Given that the tropical cyclone is now traversing in a more favorable environment, its probability of reaching super typhoon category is not ruled out,” it warned.
Typhoon ‘Ofel’ is forecast to turn north northwestward to north northeastward over the sea west of Batanes by tomorrow before turning northeastward beginning Saturday over the sea east of Taiwan towards Ryukyu Islands by the remaining forecast period.
