TYPHOON USAGI (Local name: Ofel) has intensified into a super typhoon as it is forecast to make landfall over Cagayan or northern Isabela on Thursday afternoon, the state weather bureau announced on Thursday morning.
In an 11 a.m. weather advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Super Typhoon Usagi now has maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, with gusts reaching up to 230 kph.
The Super Typhoon was estimated to be located at 135 Northeast of Echague, Isabela, moving West Northwestward at a speed of 15 kph.
“Ofel is forecast to move northwestward over the Philippine Sea before making landfall along the eastern coast of Cagayan or northern Isabela this afternoon,” PAGASA reported.
The super typhoon is then projected to move over the Babuyan Channel by Thursday night, where it may make another landfall or pass close to the Babuyan Islands, PAGASA added.
Wind Signal No. 5 has been raised in the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan, including Santa Ana and Gonzaga, where very strong winds exceeding 185 kph are expected within the next 12 hours.
Wind Signal No. 4 is in effect in Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Santa Teresita, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca) and the northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan).
Wind Signal No. 3 is in effect in Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, the northern, central, and southeastern portions of Isabela, the northern portion of Apayao, and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte.
Wind Signal No. 2 is raised in the western and southern portions of Isabela, the northeastern portion of Quirino, the rest of Apayao, Kalinga, the northeastern portion of Abra, the eastern portion of Mountain Province, the eastern portion of Ifugao, the rest of Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Aurora.
Wind Signal No. 1 is in effect for the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Abra, the northern portion of Benguet, Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union, and the northern and central portions of Aurora.
PAGASA also warned of potential storm surges in low-lying or exposed coastal areas of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, Isabela, and northern Aurora.
“There is a moderate to high risk of life-threatening storm surge with peak heights reaching 1.0 to 3.0 m in the next 48 hours,” PAGASA said. — Edg Adrian A. Eva
