Tremendous hurricane standing not dominated out as Ofel additional intensifies

Santa Ana, Cagayan, is below Sign No. 3 attributable to Storm Ofel (Usagi) as of 11 pm on Wednesday, November 13

MANILA, Philippines – Sign No. 3 was raised for the municipality of Santa Ana in Cagayan province as Storm Ofel (Usagi) additional strengthened late Wednesday night, November 13.

Ofel now has most sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour from the earlier 130 km/h, stated the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Providers Administration (PAGASA) in a bulletin launched previous 11 pm on Wednesday. Its gustiness is now as much as 185 km/h from 160 km/h.

PAGASA defined that Ofel is now in an space the place the surroundings is at present “favorable” for tropical cyclone intensification. On account of this, the climate bureau isn’t ruling out tremendous hurricane standing for Ofel.

The hurricane was final noticed 355 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora, or 295 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, at 10 pm on Wednesday. It barely accelerated, transferring west northwest at 25 km/h from 20 km/h.

Right here is the up to date listing of areas below tropical cyclone wind indicators:

Sign No. 3

Storm-force winds (89 to 117 km/h), average to vital menace to life and property

• northeastern a part of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana)

Sign No. 2

Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to average menace to life and property

• southern a part of Batanes (Mahatao, Uyugan, Basco, Ivana, Sabtang)
• remainder of Cagayan together with Babuyan Islands
• northern and japanese components of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, San Pablo, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Tumauini, Ilagan Metropolis)
• Apayao
• northern a part of Ilocos Norte (Carasi, Vintar, Burgos, Adams, Pagudpud, Bangui, Dumalneg)

Sign No. 1

Sturdy winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor menace to life and property

• remainder of Batanes
• remainder of Isabela
• Quirino
• northern a part of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Ambaguio, Solano, Bayombong, Quezon, Bagabag, Diadi, Villaverde)
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• remainder of Ilocos Norte
• northern a part of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, San Ildefonso, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, Bantay, San Vicente, Vigan Metropolis, Caoayan, Santa Catalina, Santa, Nagbukel, Narvacan)
• northern a part of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao)

If Ofel stays a hurricane, the best potential tropical cyclone wind sign can be Sign No. 4. But when it turns into an excellent hurricane, Sign No. 5 may very well be raised.

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PAGASA maintained its rainfall outlook for Ofel, stressing that floods and landslides are anticipated.

Wednesday night, November 13, to Thursday night, November 14

• Intense to torrential rain (greater than 200 millimeters): Cagayan, Isabela
• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Apayao, Kalinga
• Reasonable to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Aurora

Thursday night, November 14, to Friday night, November 15

• Intense to torrential rain (greater than 200 mm): Batanes, Cagayan
• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Ilocos Norte
• Reasonable to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Apayao, Abra

Within the subsequent 48 hours, there may be additionally a average to excessive threat of “life-threatening” storm surges “with peak heights reaching 1 to three meters” in Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan together with Babuyan Islands, Isabela, and northern Aurora.

Ofel remains to be projected to make landfall in Cagayan or Isabela on Thursday afternoon, November 14, probably throughout its peak depth.

Then it could emerge over the Babuyan and Balintang channels on Friday, November 15, “whereas making one other landfall or passing near Babuyan Islands.”

Afterwards, Ofel may flip northeast on Saturday, November 16, towards the ocean east of Taiwan. It might begin weakening as soon as it reaches Taiwan, which is inside the Philippine Space of Accountability (PAR).

Ofel may depart PAR on Sunday night, November 17. PAGASA famous, nevertheless, that modifications within the forecast observe stay potential.

PAGASA additionally up to date this outlook for sea circumstances within the subsequent 24 hours:

As much as very tough or excessive seas (journey is dangerous for all vessels)

• Japanese seaboard of mainland Cagayan; seaboard of Babuyan Islands – waves as much as 10 meters excessive
• Seaboards of Isabela; remaining seaboard of mainland Cagayan – waves as much as 8 meters excessive
• Seaboard of northern Aurora – waves as much as 5 meters excessive

As much as tough seas (small vessels mustn’t enterprise out to sea)

• Seaboard of Batanes – waves as much as 4.5 meters excessive
• Northern and japanese seaboards of Catanduanes and Polillo Islands; remaining seaboard of Aurora; seaboards of Camarines Norte and northern Quezon; northern seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Camarines Sur – waves as much as 3.5 meters excessive

As much as average seas (small vessels ought to take precautionary measures or keep away from crusing, if potential)

• Seaboard of northeastern Quezon together with the remainder of Polillo Islands; japanese seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon; northern and japanese seaboards of Northern Samar – waves as much as 2.5 meters excessive
• Remaining seaboard of Ilocos Area; remaining seaboard of Catanduanes; japanese seaboards of Camarines Sur and Japanese Samar; seaboard of Kalayaan Islands – waves as much as 2 meters excessive

Ofel is the Philippines’ fifteenth tropical cyclone for 2024, and the third for November, after Marce (Yinxing) and Nika (Toraji), which each peaked as typhoons and pummeled Northern Luzon.

Apart from Ofel, PAGASA continues to watch Tropical Storm Man-yi, which is seen to enter PAR by Thursday night. Story on Man-yi to observe right here. – Rappler.com