The tropical depression that is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday, Dec. 14, has intensified into a tropical storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Monday, Dec. 13.
The tropical storm, which has an international name "Rai," was estimated at 1,630 kilometers (km) east of Mindanao as of 4 p.m.
It intensified into a tropical storm at around 2 p.m. and is now packing maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.
"The tropical storm is forecast to move west-northwestward and will likely enter the PAR region as a severe tropical storm tomorrow evening (Dec. 14). Once inside PAR, the domestic name 'Odette' will be assigned to this tropical cyclone," PAGASA said in an advisory at 5 p.m.
"The west-northwestward movement is forecast to continue until Wednesday morning or afternoon (Dec. 15). Afterward, the tropical cyclone will turn westward and may make landfall in the vicinity of Caraga or Eastern Visayas by Thursday afternoon or evening (Dec. 16)," it pointed out.
PAGASA said the cyclone will likely further intensify and reach typhoon status by Wednesday.
"A peak intensity of around 155 kph may be reached prior to landfall," it also said.
"Current track and intensity forecast show that there is a high likelihood that tropical cyclone wind signals will be hoisted over Visayas, large portions of Mindanao, and several provinces in Southern Luzon due to the threat of strong to typhoon-force winds," it added.
PAGASA said the highest possible wind signal that may be hoisted will be Signal No. 3, while localities situated in the eastern portions of Visayas and Mindanao may be placed under Signal No. 1 as early as Tuesday afternoon or evening.
The State weather bureau warned that the passage of the tropical cyclone over the central part of the Philippine 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," PAGASA said.
It also advised residents in the northern and eastern portions of northern Luzon and the eastern portion of Central Luzon to take precautions against possible heavy rainfall due to the impact of the shear line, also known as the tail-end of frontal system, that may be enhanced during and after the passage of the tropical cyclone.