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Typhoon ‘Ofel’ (international name: Usagi) strengthens into a super typhoon as it undergoes rapid intensification, the state weather bureau said on Thursday.
According to the latest 8 AM advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Super Typhoon ‘Ofel’ is moving northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kilometers per hour.
Its center was last estimated at 165 km east Southeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 is raised over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan while TCWS No. 4 is assigned to the southeastern portion of Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan and the northeastern portion of Isabela.
TCWS No. 3 is up over the rest of Babuyan Islands, the rest of Cagayan, the northern, central, and southeastern portions of Isabela, the northern portion of Apayao, and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte.
TCWS No. 2 is hoisted over Batanes, the western and southern portions of Isabela, the northeastern portion of Quirino, the rest of Apayao, Kalinga, the northeastern portion of Abra, the eastern portion of Mountain Province, the eastern portion of Ifugao, the rest of Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Aurora.
Finally, TCWS No. 1 is issued to 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, 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 may possibly make landfall as a super typhoon. A weakening trend may ensue once ‘Ofel’ approaches Taiwan until it weakens into a remnant low over Ryukyu Islands by Monday or Tuesday,” it warned.
Super 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.