Ofel leaves Luzon, moves west-northwestward towards the West Philippine Sea

Tropical Depression Ofel has left the landmass of Luzon and is moving west-northwestward towards the West Philippine Sea, PAGASA reported in the second Severe Weather Bulletin issued on Thursday.

The weather bureau adds that there is a possibility that the tropical depression will weaken into a Low Pressure Area within the next 12 to 24 hours over the West Philippine Sea.

On Thursday, light to moderate with at times heavy rains over mainland Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Central Luzon due to Ofel and over Occidental Mindoro and Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Kalayaan Islands due to Southwest Monsoon.

Flooding, including flashfloods, and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.

Strong-force winds will be experienced in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 during the passage of the tropical depression.

Gusty conditions associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow may be experienced over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Cordillera Administrative Region, Aurora, and the coastal and mountainous areas of Ilocos Norte and mainland Cagayan Valley.

Gale Warning is in effect over the entire seaboard of Northern Luzon and the seaboard of Aurora due to rough to very rough seas associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow.

As of 4 a.m., the center of Tropical Depression Ofel was estimated over the coastal waters of Lubang, Occidental Mindoro with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph and moving in the west northwest direction at a speed of 20 kph.

TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over nine provinces, namely:

• Batangas
• Laguna
• Cavite
• Rizal
• the northern
• and central portions of Quezon (Real, Mauban, Sampaloc, Tayabas City, Pagbilao, Lucban, Lucena City, Sariaya, Candelaria, Tiaong, Dolores, San Antonio, General Nakar, Infanta)
• Metro Manila
• Bataan
• the northern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Mamburao, Abra de Ilog, Paluan, Santa Cruz)
• and the northern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Puerto Galera, San Teodoro, Baco, Naujan, Naujan Lake, Victoria, Calapan City)

Moderate to rough seas due to Ofel will be experienced over the seaboards of areas where TCWS No. 1 is in effect, and the seaboards of Zambales and Polillo Islands.

Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small seacrafts. -- BAP, GMA News