MANILA, Philippines – Super Typhoon 'Ofel' (international name: Usagi) maintains strength as it continues to endanger the Cagayan Valley Region, state weather bureau PAGASA announced in its 11:00 a.m. update on Thursday, November 14, 2024.
At 10:00 a.m. today, the center of the eye of Super Typhoon 'Ofel' was estimated based on all available data including those from Baler and Daet Weather Surveillance Radars over the coastal waters of Divilacan, Isabela.
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| Satellite image of Super Typhoon Ofel as of 11:00 am, November 14, 2024. Photo courtesy: DOST-PAGASA |
'Bagyong Ofel' has maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 230 km/h, and central pressure of 935 hPa. It is moving West northwestward at 15 km/h.
Meanwhile, tropical storm Manyi-Yi tracked at 1,375 km East of Northeastern Mindanao (outside PAR) continues to intensify as it moves west southwestward. It may enter the PAR region this evening as 'Pepito'.
Read: 'Pepito' may traverse Bicol, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Central Luzon
TROPICAL CYCLONE WIND SIGNALS (TCWS) IN EFFECT
Signal No. 5 was hoisted over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga).
Signal No. 4 was raised over Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Santa Teresita, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca) and the northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan).
Signal No. 3 in the following areas:
- Batanes
- the rest of Cagayan
- the northern, central, and southeastern portions of Isabela (San Pablo, Delfin Albano, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, San Mariano, Dinapigue)
- the northern portion of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Luna, Pudtol, Calanasan, Kabugao)
- and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Dumalneg)
Signal No. 2 in the following areas:
- 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
- the northeastern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Daguioman)
- the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis)
- the eastern portion of Ifugao (Alfonso Lista)
- the rest of Ilocos Norte, and
- the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag)
Signal No. 1 is up over these areas:
- the rest of Isabela
- the rest of Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- the rest of Mountain Province
- the rest of Ifugao
- the rest of Abra
- the northern portion of Benguet (Bokod, Mankayan, Kapangan, Atok, Kabayan, Kibungan, Bakun, Buguias, Tublay)
- Ilocos Sur
- the northern portion of La Union (Luna, Sudipen, Bangar, Santol, San Gabriel, Bagulin, Bacnotan, Balaoan, San Juan)
- and the northern and central portions of Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler, San Luis)
TRACK AND INTENSITY OUTLOOK
'Ofel' is forecast to move northwestward over the Philippine Sea before making landfall along the eastern coast of Cagayan this afternoon.
It will then emerge over Babuyan Channel tonight while making another landfall or passing close to Babuyan Islands.
'Ofel' will then turn north northwestward to north northeastward over the sea west of Batanes tomorrow (November 15) before turning northeastward beginning Saturday (November 16) over the sea east of Taiwan towards Ryukyu Islands by the remaining forecast period.
TROPICAL CYCLONES THIS YEAR
'Bagyong Ofel' is the Philippines' 15th tropical cyclone for 2024. It entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Tuesday morning, November 12.
On average, there are 20 tropical cyclones that could form or enter the PAR each year. Only half of those are projected to make landfall.
READ: LIST: PAGASA releases Philippine Typhoon names in 2024
— The Summit Express
