Severe Tropical Storm Ofel Weakens, Batanes Faces Heavy Rain
MANILA, Philippines – Severe Tropical Storm Ofel (Usagi) continues to impact the province of Batanes with moderate to heavy rainfall as of Friday, November 15. After intensifying into a super typhoon earlier in the week, Ofel has since weakened while traversing the Luzon Strait, bringing concerns of flooding and hazardous sea conditions.
As reported by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) during a press conference, Ofel’s maximum sustained winds have decreased from 120 kilometers per hour to 110 km/h, while its gustiness has also moderated to 135 km/h from 150 km/h.
Timeline of Ofel’s Development
- Thursday, November 14: Ofel reached super typhoon status with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h early in the morning.
- 1:30 PM: Made landfall in Baggao, Cagayan, before being downgraded to a typhoon later that day.
- Friday Morning: As of 10 AM, Ofel was located 215 kilometers northwest of Calayan, Cagayan, and moving north-northwest at a speed of 20 km/h.
Continued Rainfall and Weather Signals
Batanes is under the continuing threat of moderate to heavy rains, prompting caution as torrential rains were recorded during Ofel’s strongest impact over Northern Luzon. Earlier, PAGASA lifted Signal No. 3, but the following weather signals remain in effect:
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Signal No. 2: Areas with gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h) pose a minor to moderate threat to life and property:
- Northern Cagayan (Pamplona, Claveria, etc.)
- Babuyan Islands
- Northern Apayao and Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Bangui, etc.)
- Signal No. 1: Areas with strong winds (39 to 61 km/h) possess a minimal to minor threat to life and property.
Sea Conditions and Precautionary Measures
Despite the lifting of storm surge warnings, PAGASA has warned of moderate to rough seas in the coming 24 hours. Small vessels are advised to avoid venturing out, as waves of up to 4 meters high are expected along the seaboard of Batanes, while the Babuyan Islands may experience waves reaching 3 meters. Similar caution is advised for the remaining seaboards around Ilocos Norte and the mainland Cagayan.
Future Projections for Ofel
Ofel is projected to continue on a north-northwest trajectory and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon. PAGASA indicated that while it may still pose threats to Northern Luzon during its exit, it could re-enter PAR as it shifts northeast toward Taiwan over the weekend. Meteorologists are closely watching the storm as it may become a remnant low by early Monday, November 18, due to worsening environmental conditions.
Historical Context
Ofel is the 15th tropical cyclone to affect the Philippines in 2024 and the third in November, following Typhoons Marce (Yinxing) and Nika (Toraji), both of which also significantly affected Northern Luzon.
Monitoring Other Weather Developments
In addition to Ofel, PAGASA is keeping an eye on Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi), which may further impact weather conditions in the region.
As we monitor this evolving situation, residents in affected areas are encouraged to stay updated through official channels and hearken to local advisories.
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