SEVERAL areas in the Visayas and Mindanao have been told to prepare as Severe Tropical Storm “Odette” (Rai) slightly intensified and was forecast to turn into a typhoon Wednesday, December 15.
“Odette is forecast to intensify into a typhoon within 12 hours and may reach a peak intensity of 155 km/h prior to making landfall tomorrow afternoon or evening. This tropical cyclone may see some slight weakening as it crosses the Visayas and Palawan, but it is forecast to remain within the typhoon category. Re-intensification is likely once Odette emerges over the West Philippine Sea,” weather forecasters said.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 1 was hoisted in the following areas:
Visayas
Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, and the northern and central portions of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Asturias, City of Carcar, Pinamungahan, San Fernando, Toledo City, City of Naga, Balamban, Minglanilla, Cebu City, City of Talisay, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands
Mindanao
Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, and the eastern portion of Misamis Oriental (Magsaysay, Gingoog City, Medina, Talisayan, Balingoan, Kinoguitan, Sugbongcogon, Salay, Jasaan, Balingasag, Lagonglong, Binuangan, Claveria, Villanueva, Tagoloan)
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the center of Odette was located at 735 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur as of 5 a.m. Wednesday.
Odette was packing maximum winds of 110 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 135 km/h, and central pressure of 980 hPa. It was moving west northwestward at 25 km/h.
Pagasa said strong winds or higher may extend outwards up to 330 km from the center.
The agency warned that today, December 15, through tomorrow early morning, December 16, light to moderate with at times heavy rains are possible over Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands due to the trough and the outermost rain bands of Odette.
Tomorrow early morning through Friday early morning, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will be experienced over Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, the northern portion of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, the northern portion of Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Cebu, and moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Leyte, the southern portion of Eastern Samar, Siquijor, and the rest of Caraga.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Bicol Region, Zamboanga del Norte, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and the rest of Visayas and Northern Mindanao, it added.
On Friday early morning through Saturday early morning, there will be heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over Western Visayas, and the northern and central portions of Palawan including Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands, and moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, and Negros Oriental.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Bicol Region, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Zamboanga del Norte, Quezon, Aurora, the eastern portions of Cagayan and Isabela, and the rest of Visayas, Pagasa said.
“Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall,” it added.
The weather bureau also said that strong winds (strong breeze to near gale) with higher gusts will be experienced within any of the areas where TCWS 1 is currently in effect during the passage of the severe tropical storm.
Odette was forecast to move west northwestward until this afternoon, then westward thereafter.
On the forecast track, the center of the tropical cyclone was forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of Caraga or Eastern Visayas tomorrow afternoon or evening, December 16.
Afterwards, the center of Odette will continue moving generally westward and cross several provinces in Central and Western Visayas regions before emerging over the Sulu Sea on Friday morning or afternoon.
After passing near or over the Cuyo archipelago, the cyclone was forecast to cross the northern portion of Palawan on Friday evening before emerging over the West Philippine Sea.
“Further intensification is expected today through tomorrow as the severe tropical storm crosses the Philippine Sea,” said Pagasa. (SunStar Philippines)