Ofel moves toward western limit of PAR, may exit Friday morning

Tropical Depression Ofel is moving west-northwestward towards the western limit of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday evening, according to PAGASA.

In its 11 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the weather agency said Ofel is forecast continue moving generally westward over the West Philippine Sea in the next 24 hours and may exit PAR on Friday morning.

Ofel is expected to make landfall over the central portion of Vietnam on Friday evening where it may weaken, PAGASA said.

At 10 p.m. on Thursday, the center of Ofel was estimated at 400 kilometers west of Subic Bay with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

Rainfall

From Thursday night to Friday evening, PAGASA said the southwest monsoon is expected to bring light to moderate with, at times, heavy rains over MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Bangsamoro, and the Zamboanga Peninsula.

It warned affected residents of possible flooding, including flashfloods, and rain-induced landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall.

Meanwhile, strong to gale-force winds with occasional gusts may be experienced over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern coastal and/or mountainous areas of mainland Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte due to the northeasterly surface windflow.

Gale warnings have also been raised over the entire seaboard of Northern Luzon due to rough to very rough seas while moderate to rough seas are expected over easter and western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.

PAGASA is set to issue a severe weather bulletin on Ofel at 11 a.m. on Friday. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News