THE state weather bureau lifted Wednesday afternoon, October 14, the storm warning signal for Catanduanes and Sorsogon, but said Tropical Depression Ofel is still threatening several other areas in Luzon.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 1 remained hoisted over Batangas, the southern portion of Laguna (Luisiana, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Rizal, San Pablo City, Calauan, Alaminos, Los Baños, Bay, Magdalena), the central and southern portions of Quezon (Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres, Mulanay, San Francisco, Catanauan, Lopez, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, Perez, Atimonan, Tayabas City, Mauban, Sampaloc, Lucban, Gumaca, General Luna, Macalelon, Pitogo, Unisan, Plaridel, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Pagbilao, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Dolores, Tiaong, San Antonio), Calamian Islands, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Masbate (including Ticao and Burias Islands)
These areas will experience strong- to near gale-force winds during the passage of the tropical depression, while moderate to rough seas will be experienced over the eastern seaboards of Luzon and Visayas in the next 24 hours.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said those with small seacrafts should not venture out to sea over these areas under TCWS 1.
It said that as of 4 p.m. Wednesday, the center of Tropical Depression Ofel was estimated at 125 kilometers west of Juban, Sorsogon or 70 kilometers east northeast of Romblon, Romblon.
Ofel was packing maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of up to 55 km/h, and it was moving westward toward the Marinduque-Romblon area at 15 km/h, Pagasa added.
Ofel earlier made landfalls in Can-avid, Eastern Samar (2:30 a.m.); Matnog, Sorsogon (6 a.m.); and Burias Island, Masbate (12 p.m.).
Pagasa said the tropical cyclone will move west-northwestward or westward over the inland seas of Southern Luzon and may pass close or over Romblon and Mindoro Provinces.
"It is likely to emerge over the West Philippine Sea tomorrow morning and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday morning or afternoon," it said.
Pagasa also said that Ofel is forecast to remain a tropical depression while crossing the Southern Luzon area. However, it might intensify into a tropical storm after emerging over the West Philippine Sea.
"Today through tomorrow afternoon, Ofel will bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Calabarzon, Camarines Norte, Marinduque, Romblon, and Mindoro Provinces. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over Central Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Metro Manila, Palawan, Cagayan, Isabela, and the rest of Bicol Region due to Ofel and the Southwest Monsoon," Pagasa's advisory stated.
The weather bureau also warned of flooding (including flashfloods) and rain-induced landslides that may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.
Occasional gusts associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow enhanced by Ofel and Tropical Storm Nangka, which is outside PAR, may also be experienced over Batanes, the northern and eastern portions of Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands), the northern portions of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and Quezon, the eastern portion of Isabela, and Aurora, especially in coastal and mountainous areas, it added.
Pagasa also issued a gale warning over the seaboards of Batanes and Ilocos Norte and the northern seaboard of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, due to rough seas associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow.
"Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small seacrafts," it said. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)