Typhoon 'Odette' has further weakened as it made landfall in Carcar, Cebu on Thursday night, Dec. 16, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
As of 10 p.m. on Thursday (Dec. 16) the center of Odette was last observed within the vicinity of Carcar, Cebu. Despite weakening, it still packs maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 240 kph. It is moving westward at 35 kph.
Based on the forecast track of PAGASA, Odette will continue moving westward and the center of its eye is expected to traverse the rugged terrain of Negros Island and pass over the Panay Gulf close to Guimaras and the southwestern coast of Panay Island 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 likely to cross the northern or central portion of Palawan on Friday afternoon (Dec. 17) before emerging over the West Philippine Sea. The typhoon will then pass the vicinity of Kalayaan Islands on Saturday, 18.
PAGASA said that Odette may still see some slight weakening as it crosses the western portion of Visayas and mainland Palawan, but it is expected to remain as a typhoon. Re-intensification is likely once it emerges over the West Philippine Sea. However, continuous weakening may ensue beginning Sunday as the typhoon becomes exposed to increasing vertical wind shear and the surge of the northeast monsoon.
Signal No. 4 was raised in the western portion of Bohol, the central and southern portions of Cebu, the northern and central portions of Negros Oriental, and the central and southern portions of Negros Occidental.
On the other hand, Signal No. 3 was hoisted in the northern portion of Palawan including Cagayancillo and Cuyo Islands, the southwestern portion of Leyte, the western portion of Southern Leyte, the northern portion of Cebu including Camotes Islands, the rest of Bohol, the rest of Negros Oriental, Siquijor, the northern portion of Negros Occidental, Guimaras, the southern portion of Iloilo, and the southern portion of Antique.
Areas under Signal No. 2 were Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, and the rest of Palawan including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, the rest of Leyte, the rest of Southern Leyte, the rest of Cebu including Bantayan Islands, the rest of Negros Occidental, the rest of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and the rest of Antique, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, the northern portion of Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, the northern portion of Agusan del Sur, the northern portion of Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and the extreme northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte.
Meanwhile areas under Signal No. 1 were Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Marinduque, the southern portion of Quezon, Batangas, the rest of Surigao del Sur, the rest of Agusan del Sur, the rest of Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, the rest of northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte, the rest of northern portion of Zamboanga del Sur, and the northern portion of Zamboanga Sibugay.
The areas under Signal No. 4 are likely to experience "very destructive" typhoon-force winds prevailing or expected within 12 hours while areas under Signal No. 3 are expected to have "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.
Odette to still bring heavy rains, storm surges
From Thursday (Dec. 16) through early morning on Friday, Dec. 17, heavy to torrential rains over Central and Western Visayas are like to be experienced. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Norte, Palawan, and Bicol Region. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Quezon, and the rest of MIMAROPA and the rest of Mindanao.
From early morning on Friday (Dec. 17) through Saturday, Dec. 18 heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will prevail over Western Visayas, and Palawan including Calamian Islands, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over The rest of Visayas, Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, CALABARZON, and the rest of MIMAROPA. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Caraga, the southern portion of Aurora, and the rest of Northern Mindanao.
From early morning Saturday (Dec. 18) through Sunday, Dec. 19, heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over Kalayaan Islands is expected. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Quezon, 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 said.
"There is a moderate to high risk of storm surge of up to 3.0 m in height in the next 24 hours which may cause life-threatening flooding in the low-lying coastal areas of Central Visayas, Iloilo, Antique, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, and several localities in the northern portion of Palawan (including Calamian, Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands)," it added.