'Ofel' weakens; new low-pressure area spotted

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon "Ofel" (Jangmi) weakened as it continued to move slowly north norhwest Monday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said. But Pagasa, in its 5 a.m. advisory, said it is now tracking an active low-pressure area (ALPA) over the Pacific Ocean estimated at 910 km east of Mindanao. Radio dzBB reported that the weather bureau will name the ALPA "Pablo" should it intensify into a cyclone. "Batanes group of islands will have rains and gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. The rest of extreme and northern Luzon will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms," it said in its 5 a.m. advisory. The rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening, it added. Pagasa said "Ofel" was 470 km north northwest of Basco, Batanes or over the vicinity of Taipei, Taiwan as of 4 a.m. Monday. "Ofel" packed maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph and was moving north-northwest at 15 kph. By Monday afternoon it is expected to be 150 km north northwest of Taipei, Taiwan or 640 km north northwest of Basco, Batanes. Under Storm Signal No. 1 are the Batanes group of islands. Pagasa said "Ofel" will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains over Western Luzon. Meanwhile, moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest and south will prevail over Luzon and Western Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the south to southwest with slight to moderate seas except during thunderstorms. - GMANews.TV