Typhoon "Odette" (international name: "Rai") continued to traverse the Sulu Sea and moved closer to Palawan province on Friday morning, Dec. 17, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.

As of 10 a.m., the center of the eye of Odette was located 90 kilometers south-southwest of Cuyo, Palawan.

The typhoon continued to move westward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph) while packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 215 kph.

"Moving generally westward, the typhoon is forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of northern or central portion of Palawan this afternoon (Dec. 17), re-emerge over the West Philippine Sea tonight (Dec. 17), and pass in the vicinity of Kalayaan Islands tomorrow (Dec. 18)," PAGASA said.

Odette's potential landfall over Palawan will be its ninth landfall. Other landfalls were in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte (1:30 p.m., Dec. 16); Cagdianao, Dinagat Islands (3:10 p.m., Dec. 16); Liloan, Southern Leyte (4:50 p.m., Dec. 16); Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte (5:40 p.m., Dec. 16); President Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol (6:30 p.m., Dec. 16); Bien Unido, Bohol (7:30 p.m., Dec. 16); Carcar, Cebu (10 p.m., Dec. 16); and La Libertad, Negros Oriental (12 a.m., Dec. 17).

Due to the continuous stormy weather conditions, Signal No. 3 remains hoisted over the northern portion of Palawan including Cagayancillo and Cuyo Islands, southern portion of Iloilo, and southern portion of Antique.

Signal No. 2 also remains in effect in the southern portion of Oriental Mindoro, southern portion of Occidental Mindoro, western portion of Romblon, central portion of Palawan including Kalayaan and Calamian Islands, Aklan, Capiz, the rest of Iloilo, the rest of Antique, Guimaras, northern and central portions of Negros Oriental, and Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Marinduque, southern portion of Quezon, the rest of Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Islands, the rest of Oriental Mindoro, the rest of Palawan, the rest of Romblon, Batangas, Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Bohol, Biliran, western portion of Leyte, western portion of Southern Leyte, Siquijor, northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte, and northern portion of Misamis Occidental remain under Signal No. 1

Tropical cyclone wind signals hoisted in other areas have been lifted, PAGASA said.

"Destructive typhoon-force winds will be experienced within any of the areas where TCWS (tropical cyclone wind signal) No. 3 is in effect. This may bring moderate to heavy damage to structures and vegetation," it added.

Damaging winds reaching gale- to storm-force strength may also be experienced within any of the areas where Signal No. 2 is in effect, while strong winds with higher gusts may affect the areas where Signal No. 1 is currently in effect during the passage of the typhoon.

PAGASA said that heavy to torrential rains may still prevail over Western Visayas, Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands, and Negros Oriental Friday.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may also persist in Bicol, Zamboanga Peninsula, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, and the rest of Palawan, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Caraga, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Aurora, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Sur, and the rest of Visayas.

By Saturday, Dec. 18, heavy to torrential rains may prevail over Kalayaan Islands, while moderate to heavy rains may affect Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Quezon, and Aurora.

Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may persist in Cagayan Valley, CAR, Eastern Visayas, Rizal, Bulacan, mainland Palawan including Calamian Islands, and the rest of Bicol region.

"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.

It added that Odette will likely exit the Philippine area of responsibility between Saturday morning and early afternoon.

"Odette may still see some slight weakening until it crosses Palawan, but it is forecast to remain as a typhoon. Re-intensification is likely once Odette emerges over the West Philippine Sea. However, continuous 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 said.