MORE areas in the country have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2 as Typhoon Odette intensified further Wednesday, December 15, while moving west northwestward over the Philippines Sea.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the center of Odette was located at 4 p.m. Wednesday at 485 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 160 km/h, and central pressure of 970 hPa.
The typhoon was moving westward northwestward at 25 km/h.
Strong winds or higher may extend outwards up to 400 kilometers from the center, said the weather bureau.
TCWS Number 2 was hoisted over these areas:
Visayas
The southern portion of Eastern Samar (City of Borongan, Maydolong, Balangkayan, Llorente, Lawaan, Balangiga, Giporlos, Quinapondan, General Macarthur, Hernani, Salcedo, Mercedes, Guiuan), the southern portion of Samar (Basey, Marabut, Santa Rita), Southern Leyte, the central and southern portions of Leyte (Ormoc City, Jaro, Alangalang, Tacloban City, Palompon, Merida, Isabel, Palo, Santa Fe, Pastrana, Tanauan, Dagami, Tabontabon, Tolosa, Julita, Dulag, Burauen, Albuera, City of Baybay, La Paz, Mayorga, Macarthur, Javier, Abuyog, Mahaplag, Inopacan, Hindang, Hilongos, Bato, Matalom, Babatngon), Camotes Islands, and the eastern portion of Bohol (Garcia Hernandez, Jagna, Sierra Bullones, Dagohoy, Talibon, Trinidad, San Miguel, Pilar, Duero, Guindulman, Anda, Candijay, Alicia, Mabini, Ubay, Bien Unido, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia)
Mindanao
Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, the northeastern portion of Bukidnon (Impasug-Ong, Malitbog), the eastern portion of Misamis Oriental (Villanueva, Jasaan, Claveria, Balingasag, Lagonglong, Salay, Medina, Gingoog City, Magsaysay, Talisayan, Balingoan, Kinoguitan, Sugbongcogon, Binuangan), and Camiguin
TCWS Number 1 was raised over the following areas:
Luzon
Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, the southern portion of Quezon (Guinayangan, Lopez, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista, San Narciso, Mulanay, San Francisco, San Andres), Marinduque, Romblon, the central and southern portions of Oriental Mindoro (City of Calapan, Naujan, Victoria, Pola, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Gloria, Bansud, Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao), the central and southern portions of Occidental Mindoro (Sablayan, Calintaan, Rizal, San Jose, Magsaysay), and the northern portion of Palawan (Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli, El Nido, Calamian Islands, Cuyo Islands)
Visayas
Northern Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, Biliran, the rest of Leyte, the rest of Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, and Aklan
Mindanao
The northern portion of Davao Oriental (Boston, Cateel), the northern portion of Davao de Oro (Monkayo, Compostela, Montevista, Laak), the northern portion of Davao del Norte (San Isidro, Kapalong), the northwestern and central portions of Bukidnon (City of Malaybalay, Cabanglasan, San Fernando, City of Valencia, Lantapan, Talakag, Baungon, Libona, Sumilao, Manolo Fortich), the rest of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, the northern portion of Lanao del Norte (Iligan City, Tagoloan, Pantar, Baloi, Matungao, Linamon, Kauswagan, Poona Piagapo, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Munai), the northern portion of Zamboanga del Sur (Dumingag, Mahayag, Molave, Josefina), the northwestern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Jose Dalman, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Dipolog City, Polanco, Piñan, Mutia, Dapitan City, La Libertad, Rizal, Sibutad, Siayan, Sindangan, Bacungan, Salug, Godod, Liloy), and the northern portion of Lanao del Sur (Tagoloan II, Kapai, Bubong)
Pagasa said areas under TCWS will be expanded in succeeding bulletins, while the hoisted wind signals in some localities of the country will be upgraded as Odette moves closer.
It added that based on its forecast, Odette will move west northwestward until Wednesday night (December 15) or tomorrow early morning, December 16, then westward thereafter.
The center of the typhoon was also forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of Caraga or Eastern Visayas Thursday afternoon or evening.
Afterwards, Odette will continue to move generally westward and cross several provinces in Central and Western Visayas regions before emerging over the Sulu Sea on Friday morning or afternoon, December 17.
After passing near or over the Cuyo archipelago, the typhoon 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 typhoon crosses the Philippine Sea and may reach a peak intensity of 155 km/h prior to making landfall tomorrow afternoon,” said Pagasa.
“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,” it added. (LMY)