Typhoon "Odette" (international name: "Rai") intensified further ahead of its expected landfall over Dinagat Islands, Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands, or the northern portion of Surigao del Sur Thursday afternoon, Dec. 16.
In the 5 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised tropical cylone wind signal number 3 over Southern Leyte, southern portion of Leyte, Bohol, eastern portion of Cebu including Camotes Islands, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, northern portion of Agusan del Norte, and northern portion of Surigao del Sur.
Destructive typhoon-force winds are expected in these areas within 18 hours.
Signal No. 2 remains hoisted over mainland Masbate, Ticao Island, Romblon, Cuyo Islands, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, the rest of Leyte, the rest of Cebu including Bantayan Islands, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Guimaras, Iloilo, Antique, Capiz, Aklan, the rest of Surigao del Sur, the rest of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, northern portion of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, extreme northern portion of Misamis Occidental, and extreme northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte.
Damaging gale- to storm-force winds are expected in these areas within 24 hours.
Several areas were also placed under Signal No. 1 as strong winds may prevail within 36 hours. Under Signal No. 1 were Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Burias Island, Marinduque, southern portion of Quezon, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, northern and central portions of Palawan including Calamian, Cagayancillo and Kalayaan Islands, northern portion of Davao Oriental, northern portion of Davao de Oro, northern portion of Davao del Norte, the rest of Misamis Occidental, the rest of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte, northern portion of Zamboanga del Sur, and northern portion of Zamboanga Sibugay.
Odette to cross several Visayas provinces, some areas in Mindanao, southern Luzon
As of 4 a.m., the center of the eye of typhoon Odette was estimated at 330 kilometers (km) east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte.
It has maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph and was moving west-northwestward at 25 kph.
"On the forecast track, typhoon Odette will continue moving generally westward over the Philippine Sea and the center of its eye is forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of Dinagat Islands, Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands, or the northern portion of Surigao del Sur this afternoon (Dec. 16)," PAGASA said.
Afterward, the center of Odette will likely move westward and cross several provinces in Central and Western Visayas before emerging over the Sulu Sea on Friday morning, Dec. 17.
"After passing near or in the vicinity of either Cuyo or Cagayancillo archipelago, Odette is forecast to cross the northern or central portion of Palawan tomorrow afternoon or evening (Dec. 17) before emerging over the West Philippine Sea," PAGASA said.
Odette is seen to further intensify as it crosses the Philippine Sea and may reach a peak intensity of 155 to 165 kph before landfall.
"Post-initial landfall, Odette may see some slight weakening as it crosses northeastern Mindanao, Visayas, and Palawan, but it is forecast to remain as a typhoon. Re-intensification is likely once Odette emerges over the West Philippine Sea. However, weakening may ensue beginning Sunday (Dec. 19) as the typhoon becomes exposed to increasing vertical wind shear and the surge of the northeast monsoon," PAGASA added.
Brace for heavy rains, storm surges
Odette is expected to bring heavy to torrential rains over Caraga, Central Visayas, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Southern Leyte, and Negros Occidental until early Friday.
Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may also prevail over Leyte, southern portions of Eastern Samar and Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and the rest of Northern Mindanao, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may persist in Bicol Region, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Quezon, and the rest of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and mainland Bangsamoro.
From early Friday morning through early Saturday morning, Dec. 18, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may prevail over Central Visayas, Western Visayas, and Palawan including Calamian Islands, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands.
Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may affect Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and the rest of Visayas, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over Caraga, southern portion of Aurora, and the rest of Northern Mindanao.
From early Saturday morning through early Sunday morning, heavy to torrential rains may prevail over Kalayaan Islands, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may persist in mainland Palawan and Calamian Islands.
"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 warned.
Moreover, PAGASA said there is a moderate to high risk of storm surge that may cause flooding in the low-lying coastal areas of Central Visayas, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and several localities in the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands, Antique, Camiguin, Leyte, Agusan del Norte, and Davao Oriental.