PAGASA: 10 areas under storm signals as Typhoon Odette intensifies, accelerates toward Northern Luzon

At least 10 areas in Luzon were placed under storm signals, three of them under Signal No. 2, as Typhoon Odette (Usagi) intensified and accelerated toward Northern Luzon Thursday afternoon.

PAGASA said that as of 4 p.m., Odette was estimated at 570 km east of Tuguegarao City, with maximum winds of 160 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 195 kph.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Odette was forecast to move northwest at 15 kph and be 320 km northeast of Aparri, Cagayan Friday afternoon.

By Saturday afternoon, it is expected to be 50 km northwest of Basco, Batanes. By Sunday afternoon it is expected to be 380 km west of Basco, Batanes or outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

Storm signals

Areas under Storm Signal No. 2 include:

• Batanes
• Cagayan, including Calayan and Babuyan Islands
• Apayao

Under Signal No. 1 are:

• IIocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Isabela

Rainfall

PAGASA said Odette may bring rainfall of 10 to 20 mm per hour (heavy to intense) within its 700-km diameter.

It said residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm signals should be alert against possible flash floods and landslides.

Also, it warned people in coastal areas under Signal 2 ot be alert against storm surges.

PAGASA said Odette will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas.

"Residents in these areas are advised to be alert against flash floods and landslides," it said.

Also, it said sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and Palawan and over the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon and of Visayas.

Friday outlook

PAGASA's 5 p.m. bulletin said Batanes, Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan islands, and Apayao may expect stormy weather.

Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and the rest of Cordillera will have rains with gusty winds with moderate to rough seas, it added.

Mimaropa, Western Visayas and Zambales and Bataan will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides, PAGASA.

As for Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon and of Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula, PAGASA said these areas may have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

The rest of Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, it added.

PAGASA also said moderate to strong winds from the northeast to northwest over the Central Luzon and coming from the southwest to west over Southern Luzon and Western Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest with slight to moderate seas, it added.

Gale warning

Meanwhile, PAGASA said strong to gale-force winds associated with the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Odette may affect the seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and Palawan and the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon and of Visayas.

"Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves," it said. — VC, GMA News