(Eagle News)–“Ofel” has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the tropical depression left PAR at 4 a.m. today.
PAGASA said it will continue moving generally west over the West Philippine Sea in the next 24 hours.
The weather bureau said the tropical depression is likely to persist until its landfall over the central portion of Vietnam between tonight and tomorrow early morning, where it is expected to weaken into a remnant low.
Today, the southwest monsoon will bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Bangsamoro, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
Flooding (including flashfloods) and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall.
Strong- to gale-force winds with occasional gusts due to the northeasterly surface wind flow will be experienced over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern coastal and/or mountainous areas of mainland Cagayan, Apayao and Ilocos Norte.
Strong-force winds with occasional gusts due to the southwest monsoon will be experienced over Kalayaan Islands and the coastal and mountainous areas of southern Palawan, PAGASA said.
Meanwhile, a gale warning is in effect over the seaboards of Batanes, Cagayan, and Ilocos Norte due to rough to very rough seas associated with the northeasterly surface wind flow.
Sea travel is risky over these areas, especially for those using small seacraft.
Moderate to rough seas due to the southwest monsoon and the northeasterly surface windflow, on the other hand, will also be experienced over the remaining seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern and western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.
Those with small seacraft are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea.