Signal no. 3 was raised in four areas as Typhoon "Odette" (international name: "Rai") slightly intensified on Wednesday night, Dec. 15, the the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said that the center of typhoon Odette was last observed 470 kilometers (km) east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte and is moving westward at 15 km per hour (kph). It is expected to make landfall either in the vicinity of Surigao Provinces-Dinagat Islands area or the southern portion of Eastern Visayas on Thursday afternoon (Dec. 16).

Odette slightly intensified packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph. Signal No. 3 was then raised in Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Tubay, Santiago, Jabonga, Kitcharao), and the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes)

On the other hand, Signal No. 2 was raised at the southeastern portion of Masbate, the central and southern portions of Eastern Samar, the central and southern portions of Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, and the eastern portion of Iloilo, the rest of Surigao del Sur, the rest of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, the northern portion of Bukidnon, the eastern and central portions of Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin.

Areas placed under Signal No. 1 were Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, the rest of Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Marinduque, Romblon, the southern portion of Quezon, the southern portion of Batangas, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and the northern and central portions of Palawan including Calamian, Cagayancillo and Cuyo Islands Northern Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and the rest of Iloilo, the northern portion of Davao Oriental, the northern portion of Davao de Oro, the northern portion of Davao del Norte, the rest of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, the central portion of Bukidnon, the northern portion of Lanao del Norte, the northern portion of Lanao del Sur, the northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte, and the northern portion of Zamboanga del Sur.

Areas under Signal No. 3 are expected to experience "destructive typhoon-force winds" within 18 hours while "damaging gale-to storm-force" winds in areas under Signal No. 2 are expected within 24 hours and strong winds are likely to prevail within 36 hours in areas under Signal No. 1.

Brace for heavy rains

PAGASA said that starting Wednesday night (Dec. 15), until Thursday evening, (Dec. 16) heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over may be experienced over Caraga, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Southern Leyte, and Bohol. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Leyte, the southern portion of Eastern Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros Oriental, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and the rest of Northern Mindanao.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Bicol Region, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and the rest of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and mainland Bangsamoro.

From Thursday evening (Dec. 16) through Friday evening (Dec. 17) 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 over Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and the rest of Visayas. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Caraga, Quezon, the southern portion of Aurora, and the rest of Northern Mindanao and MIMAROPA.

Beginning Friday evening (Dec. 17) through Saturday evening (Dec. 18), heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over the central portion of Palawan including Kalayaan Islands is possible. Moderate to heavy rains over Aurora, Quezon, and the rest of Palawan may also be experienced, said PAGASA.

"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," it added.

A moderate to high risk of storm surge of up to 3.0 meters in height which may cause flooding in the low-lying coastal localities of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, and some localities in Camiguin, Central Visayas, Panay Island, and the northern portion of Palawan is possible according to PAGASA.

After its expected landfall, Odette is likely to move westward and cross several provinces in Central and Western Visayas regions before emerging over the Sulu Sea on Friday morning (Dec 17).

After passing near or in the vicinity of either Cuyo or Cagayancillo archipelago, this tropical cyclone is forecast to cross the northern or central portion of Palawan on Friday afternoon or evening (Dec.17) before emerging over the West Philippine Sea.

PAGASA mentioned that further intensification is expected from Wednesday (Dec. 15) through Thursday, Dec. 16 as the typhoon crosses the Philippine Sea and may reach a peak intensity of 155 kph prior to making landfall.

Odette according to PAGASA may see some slight weakening as it crosses northeastern Mindanao, Visayas, and Palawan, but it is forecasted to remain within the typhoon category. Re-intensification is likely once it 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.