Severe Tropical Storm Ofel weakens, exits PAR

Severe Tropical Storm Ofel, internationally known as Usagi, has weakened and exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday afternoon, November 15.

As of 4 p.m. on Friday, Ofel was located 205 kilometers west-northwest of Itbayat, Batanes, outside PAR, with maximum sustained winds down to 100 km/h and gusts up to 125 km/h.

The storm slightly slowed down, moving north-northwest at 15 kilometers per hour.

Ofel is projected to recurve toward the sea southwest of Taiwan from Friday evening to early Saturday morning, and may reenter PAR.

Taiwan is within PAR, and Ofel could make landfall along its southwestern coast on Saturday morning or afternoon.

The storm may further weaken due to unfavorable environmental conditions and interaction with Taiwan's mountainous terrain.

By Sunday evening or early Monday morning, Ofel may become just a remnant low.