MANILA, Philippines — Signal No. 2 is up over parts of Cagayan and Isabela as Typhoon "Ofel" maintains its strength over the Philippine Sea, the state-run weather agency said on Wednesday.

In its 11.am. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said affected were the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Baggao, Peñablanca, Gattaran, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo and Santa Ana) and the eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan and Palanan) in Northern Luzon.

Pagasa said Ofel was estimated some 485 kilometers east-northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte, and was moving west-northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) while packing maximum sustained winds of 120kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150kph.

Pagasa said Signal No. 1 was up over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the rest of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, the eastern portion of Ifugao (Dilasag and Casiguran), Ilocos Norte, and the northern portion of Aurora (Alfonso Lista, Aguinaldo, Banaue, Mayoyao, Hingyon and Hungduan).

Ofel was forecast to make landfall along the eastern coast of Cagayan or Isabela Thursday afternoon.

It will then emerge over the Luzon Strait on Friday and turn more north-northwestward while slowing down and behaving "erratically" during the weekend, the national weather agency said.