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Orange rain alert up over NCR; Ofel over the West Philippine Sea

October 26, 2012 1:18am

'Ofel' intensifies into storm; 17 areas under storm signals. A DOST-PAGASA satellite image as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday shows the location of Tropical Storm Ofel at 90 kms. east of Tandag, Surigao del Sur, packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 15 kph. At least 17 areas were placed under storm signals. GMA News

PAGASA issued on Friday at 12:30 a.m. an orange rainfall advisory over parts of Metro Manila.

The advisory warns that heavy to intense rains were observed for the past hour over Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Makati, Quezon City, CAMANAVA, Manila, Pasay and Taguig.

The rain will most likely to continue for the next 2-3 hours, said PAGASA on Twitter.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains were observed over the rest of Metro Manila (Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Marikina) for the past 3 hours and, this too will most likely continue for the next 2-3 hours.

“FLOODING IS THREATENING in low-lying areas. People are advised to closely MONITOR the weather condition and be informed of the next advisory,” cautioned PAGASA.

Ofel advisory

The state weather service, in its 11 p.m. advisory, said that Tropical Storm Ofel (Son-Tinh) has entered the West Philippine Sea as it moved away from the country.

Tropical Storm Ofel was estimated to be 240 kilometers west of Bataan province as of 10 p.m.

The advisory said that Ofel packed maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It was moving northwest at 24 kph.

By Friday evening, Ofel is expected to be 690 km west of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.

Only Zambales and Bataan were placed under a Storm Signal; they are under Signal No. 1. Storm signals elsewhere had been lowered.

Be that as it may, PAGASA reminded residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas to remain alert against possible flash floods and landslides.

It added that Ofel may bring rainfall of 5 to 20 mm per hour (moderate to intense) within its 400-km diameter.

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Northern Luzon and over the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon due to the surge of the northeast monsoon," PAGASA said. — DVM, GMA News

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