The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Saturday, Dec. 11, said the low pressure area (LPA) off Mindanao will likely enter the country's area of responsibility as a tropical cyclone early next week and will be named "Odette."
PAGASA weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said the LPA that was located 2,000 kilometers east of Mindanao around 3 p.m. may develop into a tropical cyclone within 48 hours.
Ordinario said the LPA may enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Monday, Dec. 13, or Tuesday, Dec. 14.
Weather specialist Benison Estareja said on Saturday morning that the weather disturbance will be named "Odette" once it becomes a tropical cyclone inside the PAR.
It will be the 15th tropical cyclone inside the PAR this year, he added.
Estareja also noted that the potential cyclone could further intensify while crossing the Pacific Ocean, and the worst-case scenario is that it could reach the typhoon intensity.
He added that the weather disturbance could make landfall over Eastern Visayas or Caraga by Thursday, Dec. 16.
"Ibig sabihin po niyan, pagdating ng Thursday, asahan na ang mga bugso ng hangin at malakas na pag-ulan sa silangang bahagi ng bansa, kasama ang Bicol Region. After that, tatawirin din itong bahagi ng Visayas. Affected din itong Mindanao, Mimaropa, and Calabarzon. (That means, by Thursday, expect strong winds and heavy rains in the eastern part of the country, including the Bicol Region. After that, it will also cross parts of the Visayas. It may also affect Mindanao, Mimaropa, and Calabarzon)," Estareja said.
"As early as now, pinaghahanda na po natin ang ating mga kababayan sa posibleng impacts nitong magiging bagyo na papasok sa PAR (we are preparing our countrymen for the possible impacts of this typhoon that will enter PAR)," he added.
As of Saturday afternoon, the shear line, also known as the tail-end of frontal system, and northeast monsoon, locally called "amihan," remain the dominant weather systems affecting the country.
In the next 24 hours, cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may prevail over Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Marinduque, and Oriental Mindoro.
Those in areas affected by the shear line were advised to take precautions against possible flooding or landslides, especially during moderate to heavy, to at times intense, rains.
Cloudy skies with light rains may also prevail over Cagayan Valley, Apayao, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mt. Province, and Aurora due to the northeast monsoon, PAGASA said.
Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, and Central Luzon may also have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light monsoon rains.
Meanwhile, the rest of the country may have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
PAGASA warned the public that the occurrence of severe thunderstorms may sometimes trigger flash floods or landslides.