TYPHOON “Odette” (Rai) has maintained its strength as it moved westward toward Caraga-Eastern Visayas, said the state weather bureau Wednesday evening, December 15.
As of 7 p.m., the center of Odette was located at 535 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, or 445 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.
The typhoon was packing maximum winds of 130 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 160 km/h, and central pressure of 970 hPa as it moved westward at 20 km/h.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2 has been hoisted over the central and southern portions of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Salcedo, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, General Macarthur, Hernani, Llorente, Balangkayan, Maydolong, City of Borongan, San Julian, Sulat, Taft, Can-Avid), the central and southern portions of Samar (Marabut, Basey, Santa Rita, Villareal, Pinabacdao, Calbiga, Hinabangan, Paranas, Motiong, Jiabong, City of Catbalogan, San Sebastian, Zumarraga, Daram, Talalora), Biliran (Biliran, Cabucgayan, Caibiran, Culaba, Almeria, Naval, Kawayan), Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northern and central portions of Cebu (San Fernando, City of Naga, Toledo City, Balamban, Asturias, Minglanilla, City of Talisay, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cordova, Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Danao City, Carmen, Tuburan, Catmon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Borbon, Tabogon, San Remigio, City of Bogo, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Bantayan Islands, Santa Fe, Camotes Islands), and Bohol in the Visayas.
Also under TCWS 2 are Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, 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, Marinduque, Romblon, the southern portion of Quezon (San Antonio, Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, Dolores, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Agdangan, Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Pitogo, Lopez, Guinayangan, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco), the southwestern portion of Batangas (San Juan, Lobo, Taysan, Rosario, Padre Garcia), Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and the northern portion of Palawan (San Vicente, Roxas, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli, El Nido, Calamian Islands, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands)
Visayas
Northern Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, the rest of Cebu, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Guimaras, and Antique
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 rest of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, the northwestern and central portions of Bukidnon (Talakag, Lantapan, City of Valencia, City of Malaybalay, San Fernando, Cabanglasan, Manolo Fortich, Sumilao, Libona, Baungon), the northern portion of Lanao del Norte (Baroy, Tubod, Kolambugan, Magsaysay, Tangcal, Munai, Maigo, Bacolod, Kauswagan, Poona Piagapo, Pantao Ragat, Matungao, Baloi, Iligan City, Linamon, Tagoloan, Pantar), the northern portion of Lanao del Sur (Madalum, Bacolod-Kalawi, Tugaya, Balindong, Piagapo, Saguiaran, Marantao, Marawi City, Kapai, Tagoloan II, Bubong, Ditsaan-Ramain, Buadiposo-Buntong, the northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Labason, Kalawit, Tampilisan, Liloy, Salug, Godod, Bacungan, Sindangan, Siayan, Jose Dalman, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Dipolog City, Polanco, Piñan, Mutia, La Libertad, Dapitan City, Sibutad, Rizal), and the northern portion of Zamboanga del Sur (Dumingag, Ramon Magsaysay, Midsalip, Sominot, Mahayag, Molave, Josefina, Tambulig)
Pagasa said that Wednesday night through tomorrow early morning, December 16, light to moderate with at times heavy rains are possible over Caraga, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte due to the trough and the outermost rain bands of Odette.
On Thursday 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, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, and Negros Occidental.
Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced over Leyte, the southern portions of Eastern Samar and Samar, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras, the northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte and the rest of Caraga, and light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Bicol Region, the rest of Zamboanga del Norte, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and the rest of Visayas and Northern Mindanao.
Pagasa said that based on their forecast track, the center of Odette may make landfall in the vicinity of Surigao Provinces or southern portion of Eastern Visayas Thursday afternoon.
Afterwards, the typhoon’s center will continue moving generally westward and cross several provinces in Central and Western Visayas regions before emerging over the Sulu Sea on Friday morning, December 17.
After passing near or over the Cuyo archipelago, the typhoon was forecast to cross the northern portion of Palawan on Friday afternoon or evening before emerging over the West Philippine Sea.
The weather bureau added that further intensification is expected Wednesday through Thursday as Odette crosses the Philippine Sea and may reach a peak intensity of 155 km/h prior to making landfall Thursday. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)