The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday evening, Dec. 14, hoisted tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 over some areas in Eastern Visayas and Caraga in anticipation of the impact of severe tropical storm "Odette" (international name: "Rai").
In the PAGASA's tropical cyclone bulletin issued at 11 p.m., Signal No. 1 has been raised over the southeastern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Mercedes, Salcedo) Dinagat Islands, eastern portion of Surigao del Norte (Claver, Surigao City, Tagana-An, Placer, Gigaquit, Bacuag) including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, and northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Cortes, Carmen, Lanuza).
"Strong winds with higher gusts will be experienced within any of the areas where TCWS (tropical cyclone wind signal) No. 1 is currently in effect during the passage of the severe tropical storm. This may generally bring up to very light damage to structures and vegetation," PAGASA said.
"Areas under TCWS will be expanded in succeeding bulletins, while the hoisted wind signals in some localities of the country will be upgraded as Odette moves closer. The highest level of wind signal that may be hoisted during the passage of Odette is TCWS No. 3 due to possible destructive typhoon-force winds localities near or along the path of this tropical cyclone," it added.
Landfall seen over Eastern Visayas, Caraga
PAGASA said the center of Odette was estimated at 890 kilometers (km) east of Mindanao as of 10 p.m.
It has maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kph and was moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.
"Odette is forecast to move west-northwestward tonight (Dec. 14) through tomorrow (Dec. 15), then westward beginning Thursday (Dec. 16). On the forecast track, the center of this tropical cyclone is forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of Caraga or Eastern Visayas on Thursday afternoon or evening," PAGASA said.
The severe tropical storm will likely continue to move westward and traverse Central and Western Visayas before emerging over the Sulu Sea on Friday morning or afternoon, Dec. 17.
After passing near or over the Cuyo archipelago, Odette will likely traverse the northern portion of Palawan on Friday evening.
"Further intensification is expected tomorrow (Dec. 15) through Thursday as the severe tropical storm crosses the Philippine Sea east of Mindanao," PAGASA said.
Odette is seen to intensify further into a typhoon within 12 hours and may reach a peak intensity of 155 kph before its landfall.
"This tropical cyclone may see some slight weakening as it crosses the Visayas and Palawan, but it is forecast to remain within the typhoon category. Re-intensification is likely once Odette emerges over the West Philippine Sea," PAGASA said.
PAGASA warns of possible intense to torrential rains
Odette may bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Dinagat Islands due to the trough and the outermost rain bands of Odette as early as Wednesday, PAGASA said.
By Thursday, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may affect Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Camiguin, and Misamis Oriental, while moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may prevail over Leyte, Southern Leyte, southern portion of Eastern Samar, Bohol, Siquijor, and the rest of Caraga.
Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may affect Bicol Region, Zamboanga del Norte, and the rest of Visayas and Northern Mindanao.
By Friday, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may persist in Central Visayas, Western Visayas, and northern Palawan including Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands.
Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may also prevail over the rest of Visayas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, central portion of Palawan, Calamian Islands, and Dinagat Islands, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may persist in Bicol Region, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga del Norte, Quezon, the rest of Palawan, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur
"Under these conditions, scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall," PAGASA said.
Furthermore, due to the influence of Odette and the prevailing northeast monsoon, a gale warning remains effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, eastern and western seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas, and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao.
"Within the same period, moderate to rough seas, up to 1.2-3.1 meters, will prevail over the remaining seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas, and the western and northern seaboards of Mindanao. These conditions are risky for those using small seacrafts. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions," PAGASA said.
The severe tropical storm entered the Philippine area of responsibility at around 7 p.m., Tuesday, and was given a local name of Odette--the country's 15th tropical cyclone for 2021.