Typhoon ‘Ofel’ weakens heading towards Babuyan Islands

Metro Manila, Philippines — Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi) weakened from a super typhoon as it headed towards Babuyan Islands, where it would either pass close or make another landfall on Thursday evening.

It made landfall in Baggao, Cagayan at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

As of 5 p.m., PAGASA raised Signal No. 4 over Babuyan Islands and the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan.

Signal No. 3 was up over Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, the northern portion of Isabela, the northern portion of Apayao, and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte.

Signal No. 2 covered the western and eastern portions of Isabela, the rest of Apayao, Kalinga, the northeastern portion of Abra, the eastern portion of Mountain Province, and the rest of Ilocos Norte.

Areas under Signal No. 1 were the rest of Isabela, Quirino, the northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Mountain Province, the rest of Ifugao, the rest of Abra, the northern portion of Benguet, Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union, and the northern portion of Aurora.

Packing winds of 165 kilometers per hour (kph), “Ofel” may also dump over 200 millimeters of rain to Cagayan. The intense to torrential rainfall may cause severe flooding and landslides.

Heavy to intense rainfall is also expected in Batanes, Isabela Ilocos Norte, and Apayao; while moderate to heavy rainfall for Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, and Aurora.

PAGASA issued a storm surge warning for the coastal towns of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, and northern Aurora.