Tropical storm ‘Ofel’ intensifies, crosses Mindoro

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Tropical storm Ofel (Son-Tinh) has intensified Thursday morning, October 25, after crossing Mindoro on its way towards the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).

As of 10 am, Ofel was last located 40 km west of Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro (13.1°N, 120.3°E), carrying maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 90 km/h.

The storm is also bringing moderate to intense rainfall (5-20 mm/h) within its 350 km diameter, state weather bureau PAGASA said in its 11 am bulletin.

Prior to this, Ofel has made landfall twice overnight Thursday as it traversed the Visayas.

Public storm warning signal number 2 has been raised over the following:

• Batangas
• Occidental Mindoro
• Oriental Mindoro including Lubang Island
• Romblon
• Marinduque

These areas should expect winds between 61-100 km/h.

Signal number 1 has been raised over the following areas:

• Metro Manila
• Bataan
• Southern Quezon
• Masbate including Burias Island
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Iloilo
• Calamian Islands
• Cavite
• Laguna

In areas under public storm warning signals, flashfloods and landslides can occur, particularly in low-lying areas or mountainsides.

Public storm warning signals elsewhere have been lowered.

Ofel is moving west northwest at 22 km/h, and is estimated to be 510 km west of Metro Manila by Friday morning.

The rest of the country will have cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rain or thunderstorms.

Winds will mainly blow from the east to northeast over Luzon, and from the southeast to south over the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao.

With the effects of the northeast monsoon (Amihan) and the tropical storm, small seacraft are advised not to go out to sea due to strong waves.

Tropical Cyclone Warning, Tropical Storm Ofel, 25 October 2012, 11 am

PAGASA 24-Hour Public Weather Forecast, 25 October 2012, 5am

– Rappler.com