After making landfall nine times, typhoon "Odette" (international name: "Rai") has left land and is now over the West Philippine Sea, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 8 p.m. bulletin, Friday, Dec. 17.
As of 7 p.m., the center of the eye of Odette was over the coastal waters of San Vicente, Palawan, or 85 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa City.
The typhoon further weakened and now has maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 205 kph.
Odette has made landfall nine times from Dec. 16 to Dec. 17.
These were on 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); La Libertad, Negros Oriental (12 a.m., Dec. 17); and Rojas, Palawann (3:10 p.m., Dec. 17).
Due to the continuous impact of the outer circulation of the typhoon, tropical cyclone wind signal number 3 remains hoisted over the northern portion of Palawan including Kalayaan Islands.
Moreover, Signal No. 2 remains in effect in the central portion of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands, and Signal No. 1 over the rest of Palawan.
Heavy to torrential rains may prevail over Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands, while moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may persist in Bicol Region, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, and Marinduque.
Meanwhile, light to moderate with at times heavy rains may prevail over Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal.
By Saturday, Dec. 18, heavy to torrential rains may persist in Kalayaan Islands, while moderate to heavy with at times intense rains may prevail over the eastern portion of Cagayan, Aurora, and Quezon.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are also expected over Cordillera Administrative Region, Rizal, Bulacan, Bicol Region, mainland Palawan including Calamian Islands, and the rest of Cagayan Valley.
"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 is forecast to pass in the vicinity of Kalayaan Islands tomorrow (Dec. 18)," PAGASA said.