PAGASA: Storm Ofel accelerates, crosses Leyte; 36 areas under storm signals

Published October 24, 2012 5:33pm

At least 36 areas were placed under storm signals Wednesday afternoon as Tropical Storm Ofel (Son-Tinh) accelerated slightly and started crossing Leyte province in Eastern Visayas.

PAGASA said at least 15 areas were placed under Signal No. 2 while 21 were placed under Signal No. 1.

As of 4 p.m., PAGASA said the center of Ofel was seen in the vicinity of Ormoc City, Leyte, packed maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph and was moving west-northwest at 22 kph.

On its Twitter account, PAGASA identified the areas under storm signals: Signal No. 2

Masbate,
Romblon,
Eastern Samar,
Western Samar,
Leyte,
Southern Leyte,
Biliran Island,
Camotes Island,
Capiz,
Aklan,
Boracay Island,
Northern Cebu,
Bantayan Island,
Northern Negros, and
Dinagat Island

Residents from these provinces should expect winds of 60 to 100 kph within 24 hours. People should avoid travelling by water, especially by boat and other small seacrafts.

Signal No. 1

Camarines Sur,
Albay,
Sorsogon,
Burias Island,
Southern Quezon,
Marinduque,
Oriental Mindoro,
Occidental Mindoro,
Calamian Group of Island,
Batangas,
Lubang Island,
Cuyo Island,
Northern Samar,
Antique,
Iloilo,
Southern Negros,
Southern Cebu,
Bohol,
Surigao del Norte, and
Siargao Island.

Based on the PAGASA PSWS guidelines, people from these areas should expect winds of up to 60 kph within 36 hours.

The state weather bureau also advised that residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under PSWS numbers 2 and 1 should be alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

PAGASA forecasted that TS Ofel to be 70 km northwest of San Jose, Mindoro by Oct. 25 afternoon, and at 450 km west of Iba, Zambales, by Oct. 26 afternoon.

Areas within the 450 km diameter of the storm should expect moderate to intense rainfall of about 5 to 20 mm.

PAGASA also said, "Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the Eastern Seaboard of Southern Luzon, seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao

due to the combined effect of Ofel and the Northeast Monsoon (Hanging Amihan)." — with Shaira Panela/RSJ, GMA News

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