Ofel to bring moderate to heavy rains over Bicol Region, provinces of Samar, southern Quezon, Marinduque, Romblon

Tropical Depression Ofel continues to move northwestward and is approaching the coastal waters of eastern Samar, according to the 2 a.m. Severe Weather Bulletin issued by PAGASA.

Ofel will make landfall over eastern Samar and cross the Samar island on Wednesday morning before emerging over the Samar Sea around noontime.

The tropical depression will then move west-northwestward over the inland seas of Southern Luzon and may pass close or over Masbate, Romblon, and Mindoro Provinces. It is likely to emerge over the West Philippine Sea on Thursday morning and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday afternoon.

Ofel will remain a tropical depression while crossing the Samar Island-southern Luzon area and as it crosses Mindoro island weather disturbance is expected and the tropical depression is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm.

Ofel will bring moderate to heavy rains over Bicol Region, northern Samar, eastern Samar, Samar, southern Quezon, Marinduque, and Romblon.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will also be experienced over Metro Manila, Mindoro Provinces, and the rest of Visayas and CALABARZON.

There may be flooding and rain-induced landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.

PAGASA Regional Services Divisions may issue local thunderstorm/rainfall advisories and heavy rainfall warnings as appropriate.

Areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1:

• Southern portion of Quezon (San Francisco, San Andres, San Narciso, Mulanay, Catanauan, Buenavista, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, Perez, Atimonan, Unisan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Plaridel, Gumaca, Lopez, General Luna, Macalelon, Pitogo)
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Masbate (including Ticao and Burias Islands)
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• northern portion of Leyte (Tabango, Leyte, San Isidro, Calubian, Capoocan, Carigara, Jaro, Pastrana, Dagami, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Palo, Santa Fe, Alangalang, Tacloban City, Babatngon, San Miguel, Barugo, Tunga)

There will be strong- to near gale-force winds will be experienced in areas under TCWS No. 1 during the passage of the tropical depression. These winds may cause at most very light damage to structures and vegetation.

Meanwhile, occasional gusts associated with the northeasterly surface windflow being enhanced by Ofel and Tropical Storm Nangka, which is outside PAR, may be experienced over Batanes, the northern and eastern portions of Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands), the northern portions of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, and Quezon, the eastern portion of Isabela, and Aurora, especially in coastal and mountainous areas.

Moderate to rough seas will be experienced over the seaboards of Luzon and Eastern Visayas in the next 24 hours, especially in areas where TCWS No. 1 is in effect. Those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out to sea over these areas.

As of 1 a.m. on Wednesday, the center of Tropical Depression Ofel was estimated based on all available data at 30 kilometers east northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center with gustiness of up to 55 kph as it moves northwestward at the speed of 10 kph. -- BAP, GMA News