The tropical depression outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) is seen to further intensify and reach the severe tropical storm strength prior to its entry into the PAR by Tuesday, Dec. 14.
"The tropical depression is forecast to move general west-northwestward and will likely enter the PAR region as a severe tropical storm on Tuesday evening. Once inside the PAR, the domestic name 'Odette' will be assigned to this tropical cyclone," the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 11 p.m. advisory.
As of 10 p.m, the weather disturbance was estimated at 1,975 kilometers east of Mindanao.
It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness up to 70 kph while moving westward at 15 kph.
"The west-northwestward movement is forecast to continue until Wednesday morning (December 15). Afterward, the tropical cyclone will turn westward and may make landfall in the vicinity of Eastern Visayas or Caraga by Thursday afternoon or evening (Dec. 16)," PAGASA said.
It added that the tropical cyclone will gradually intensify within the forecast period and may reach the typhoon category by Wednesday.
"A peak intensity of around 150 kph may be reached prior to landfall. current track and intensity forecast show that there is a high likelihood that tropical cyclone wind signals will be hoisted for Visayas, large portions of Mindanao, and several provinces in southern Luzon due to the threat of strong to typhoon-force winds," PAGASA said.
The highest possible wind signal that may be hoisted will be tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) number 3.
"Localities situated in the eastern portions of Visayas and Mindanao may be placed under TCWS No. 1 as early as Tuesday afternoon or evening," PAGASA pointed out.
"The passage of this tropical cyclone over the central portion of the archipelago may bring heavy rainfall over Visayas, large portions of Mindanao, and several provinces in southern Luzon. Coastal inundation due to high waves near the coast and storm surge are also possible for low-lying localities near and along the path of the typhoon," it warned.
PAGASA advised residents in the northern and eastern portions of northern Luzon and the eastern portion of Central Luzon to monitor PAGASA's updates due to possible heavy rainfall that may occur in relation to the behavior of the shear line during and after the passage of the tropical cyclone.