The tropical depression outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) maintained its strength, as it continued to cross the Pacific Ocean toward the country on Monday morning, Dec. 13, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA said the tropical depression has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness up to 70 kph while moving westward at 10 kph.
Its center was estimated at 1,760 kilometers east of Mindanao as of 10 a.m.
"The tropical depression is forecast to move generally west-northwestward and will likely enter the PAR region as a severe tropical storm on Tuesday evening (Dec. 14). Once inside PAR, the domestic name 'Odette' will be assigned to this tropical cyclone," PAGASA said in an advisory at 11 a.m.
"The west-northwestward movement is forecast to continue until Wednesday morning (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.
Likewise, the cyclone is seen to gradually intensify and reach the typhoon category by Wednesday, Dec. 15.
"A peak intensity of around 150 kph may be reached prior to landfall," PAGASA said.
"Current track and intensity forecast shows that there is a high likelihood that tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS) 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 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 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 shear line, also known as the tail-end of frontal system, during and after the passage of the tropical cyclone.