Residents of Eastern Visayas and Caraga are advised to be vigilant against the destructive winds, intense rains, and other hazards that a tropical storm may bring once it enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday, Dec. 14.

In its public weather forecast, PAGASA said that as of 3 a.m., the center of the tropical storm which has an international name “Rai,” was located 1,380 kilometers (km) east of Mindanao.

It has maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph), gustiness up to 105 kph, and is moving northwestward at 30 kph.

“Ngayong gabi po ay inaasahan natin na papasok ito sa PAR at papangalanang Odette (Tonight it is expected to enter PAR and it will be given the domestic name Odette),” said PAGASA Weather Specialist Grace Castañeda.

Odette will the country’s 15th tropical cyclone this 2021.

“By Thursday (Dec. 16), ay inaasahan po natin itong mag landfall dito sa area ng Eastern Visayas-Caraga region. Kaya ‘yung mga kababayan po natin dyan, ang paalala po natin ay mag-ingat, maging alerto po tayo dahil magiging mapaminsala ang dala nitong hangin at pag-ulan (It is expected to make landfall in the vicinity of eastern Visayas-Caraga region by Thursday. Residents of the said area are advised to be vigilant and prepared against its destructive winds and intense rains),” Castañeda added.

Those residing in Visayas, Mindanao, and Southern Luzon are likewise advised to be prepared against the possible impacts of the said weather disturbance.

The State weather bureau said the cyclone will likely reach typhoon category tomorrow (Dec. 15) and hit a pre-landfall peak intensity of 155 kph by Thursday (Dec. 16) afternoon.

“Current track and intensity forecast shows that there is a high likelihood that tropical cyclone winds signals (TCWS) 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 is TCWS No. 3. Meanwhile, localities situated in the eastern portions of Visayas and Mindanao may be placed under TCWS No. 1 as early as tonight (Dec. 14) or tomorrow (Dec. 15) early morning. (Charie Mae F. Abarca)