Typhoon Ofel made landfall in Baggao, Cagayan at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Packing winds of 175 kilometers per hour, "Ofel" was projected to bring heavy rains, over 200 millimeters, to Cagayan and Isabela.
Signal No. 3 was raised in Batanes, parts of Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte. Signal No. 2 covered areas in Isabela, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Ilocos Norte, while Signal No. 1 was in effect for several other provinces.
The intense rainfall expected from the typhoon posed threats of severe flooding and landslides. Areas such as Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Kalinga, and others were warned to brace for heavy to intense rainfall. A storm surge warning was also issued for coastal areas in Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, and more regions.
The typhoon was forecasted to move swiftly at 20 kph across Luzon and was likely to make a landfall in the Babuyan Islands. Over the course of the storm, PAGASA had downgraded "Ofel" to a typhoon from a super typhoon status, adjusting the storm alert levels accordingly.
