Hours ahead its expected exit on the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), typhoon Odette (international name: “Rai”) slightly intensified and threatened Kalayaan Islands, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Saturday, Dec. 18.
As of 10 a.m., the center of the eye of typhoon Odette was located 380 kilometers (km) west northwest of Puerto Princesa, Palawan or 115 km east of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan.
It has maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph), gustiness of up to 190 kph, and it is moving westward at 25 kph.
Due to the weather disturbance, heavy to torrential rains are expected in Kalayaan Islands.
Meanwhile, the state weather bureau likewise warned residents of the northern and eastern sections of Cagayan, eastern portion of Isabela, Apayao, Aurora, and the northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands against moderate to heavy rains.
Tropical cyclone wind signal number 3 remained hoisted in Kalayaan Islands.
PAGASA said that destructive typhoon-force winds may prevail in the area.
Meanwhile, the western portion of Palawan remains under Signal No. 1, where strong winds may be experienced.
“The typhoon is forecast to move west northwestward and may exit PAR this Saturday, Dec. 18, morning or afternoon,” said PAGASA in its 11 a.m. bulletin. (Charie Mae F. Abarca)