Typhoon Odette (international name: “Rai”) has left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) but it intensified further as it moved westward over the west Philippine Sea, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Saturday, Dec. 18.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said that as of 4 p.m., the eye of typhoon Odette was located over the coastal waters of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan outside PAR. It has maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour (kph), gustiness of up to 205 kph, and it is moving westward at 25 kph.
Kalayaan Islands remained the only area in the country where tropical cyclone wind signal number 3 is hoisted. Destructive typhoon-force winds may be experienced in the area.
Meanwhile, PAGASA warned residents of Kalayaan Islands to be vigilant against heavy to torrential rains.
Residents of the eastern and northern portions of Cagayan, the eastern portion of Isabela, Apayao, Aurora, and the northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands are warned against moderate to heavy rains.
Moreover, light to moderate with at times heavy rain showers may affect the Bicol region, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Northern Samar, and the rest of Cagayan, Isabela, and Quezon.
The state weather bureau said that typhoon Odette exited PAR at 12:40 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18, and it is expected to maintain its strength while moving over the west Philippine sea. (Charie Mae F. Abarca)