Manila: Despite further weakening, Typhoon Ofel (international name Usagi) continues to threaten the Babuyan Islands, the weather bureau reported in a 5 p.m. bulletin on Thursday. The typhoon, carrying maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 275 kph, was located in the vicinity of Gonzaga, Cagayan as of 4 p.m. Thursday. It is expected to pass close to or make landfall over the Babuyan Islands Thursday night. According to Philippines News Agency, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 is in effect over Babuyan Islands and the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan, including Santa Teresita, Ballesteros, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Lal-Lo, Allacapan, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Gonzaga, Santa Ana, Abulug, Pamplona, and Sanchez-Mira. These regions are predicted to experience typhoon-force winds. Meanwhile, Batanes, the rest of Cagayan, the northern portion of Isabela, the northern portion of Apayao, and the northern portion of Ilocos Norte are under TCWS No. 3 and will endure storm-force winds. Gale-force winds are forecasted in areas under TCWS No. 2, which include the western and eastern portions of Isabela, the rest of Apayao, Kalinga, the northeastern portion of Abra, the eastern portion of Mountain Province, and the rest of Ilocos Norte. Areas under TCWS No. 1, such as the rest of Isabela, Quirino, the northern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Mountain Province, the rest of Ifugao, the rest of Abra, the northern portion of Benguet, Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of La Union, and the northern portion of Aurora, will experience strong winds. Intense to torrential rains are anticipated in Cagayan, with heavy to intense rainfall expected in Batanes, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, and Apayao. Moderate to heavy rains are likely in Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Quirino, Aurora, and Nueva Vizcaya. There is a significant risk of life-threatening storm surge, with peak heights exceeding three meters in the next 48 hours, over low-lying or exposed coastal ar eas of Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, and northern Aurora, as reported by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). A gale warning is in place for the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, making sea travel risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.