TD ‘Ofel’ leaves landmass; rains in several Luzon areas expected

Tropical depression “Ofel” has already left the landmass on Thursday after making landfall five times over the islands of Visayas and Luzon.

In its severe weather bulletin issued at 8 a.m., Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) observed the tropical depression over the West Philippine Sea, at 170 kilometers (km) west-northwest of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro or 150 km west of Tanauan City, Batangas.

“Ofel” went island-hopping on Wednesday as it made a total of five landfalls over Can-avid, Eastern Samar (Oct. 14, 2:30 a.m.); Matnog, Sorsogon (Oct. 14, 6 a.m.); Burias Island, Masbate ( Oct. 14, 12 noon); Torrijos, Masbate (Oct. 14, 7:45 p.m.); and finally over San Juan, Batangas (11 p.m., Oct. 14).

As of Thursday morning, the weather disturbance has maintained its tropical depression classification but could be downgraded into a low pressure area within the next 12 to 24 hours, PAGASA said.

PAGASA has already lifted all tropical cyclones but “Ofel” may still bring moderate to heavy rains over Aurora province, and light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales.

Light to moderate rains due to the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” may also affect Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, and Calamian, Cuyo, and Kalayaan Islands.

PAGASA advised the public, especially those in high-risk areas, to stay vigilant against flooding or rain-induced landslides that may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall.

Occasional gusts may still be experienced over Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan, including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands due to tropical depression “Ofel” and the “habagat.”

Wind gusts associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow will also be experienced over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Apayao, Aurora, and the coastal and mountainous areas of Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino.