State weather bureau PAGASA lifted its highest tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) no. 5 earlier hoisted in mainland Cagayan as ‘Ofel’ weakened back into typhoon category as of 2:00 p.m. on Thursday.
The latest weather disturbance earlier made its landfall over Baggao, Cagayan at 1:30 P.M. and would continue crossing the northeastern portion of mainland Luzon this afternoon, according to PAGASA.
“’Ofel’ has started to weaken due to increasing interaction with the landmass of Luzon. It will continue to weaken throughout the forecast period due to frictional effects of land, as well as the increasingly unfavorable environment over the Luzon Strait and the sea east of Taiwan,” it said.
The eye of the storm was last monitored at 50 kilometers east northeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. It was moving west northwestward at 20 km per hour with maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 240 km/h.
As of this posting, the following wind signals prevail over the affected northern Luzon localities:
· TCWS No. 4 – Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Santa Teresita, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Gonzaga, Santa Ana), and the northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan)
· TCWS No. 3 – Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, the northern, central, and eastern portions of Isabela (San Pablo, Delfin Albano, Ilagan City, Tumauini, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, San Mariano, Palanan), the northern portion of Apayao (Flora, Santa Marcela, Luna, Pudtol, Calanasan, Kabugao), and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Dumalneg)
· TCWS No. 2 – 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, Dinapigue), 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), and the rest of Ilocos Norte.
· TCWS No. 1 – The rest of Isabela, 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 portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler, Dilasag, Maria Aurora).
