Odette now a typhoon; Signal No. 2 up over two Mindanao areas

Severe Tropical Storm Odette has intensified into a typhoon, prompting authorities to raise Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 over two areas in Mindanao on Wednesday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said under TCWS No. 2 are:

• eastern portion of Surigao del Norte (Claver, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands) 
• Surigao del Sur

Strong winds are prevailing or should be expected within 24 hours in areas under TCWS No. 2, PAGASA said.

Heavy rainfalls starting Wednesday until Thursday morning are also possible over Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, and Southern Leyte due to the trough and the outermost rain bands of Odette, PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, under TCWS No. 1 are:

• Sorsogon,
• Masbate including Ticao Island,
• southern portion of Romblon (Cajidiocan, San Fernando, Magdiwang, Alcantara, Looc, Santa Fe, San Jose)
• Eastern Samar,
• Northern Samar,
• Samar,
• Leyte,
• Biliran,
• Southern Leyte,
• Bohol,
• Cebu,
• Negros Oriental,
• Negros Occidental,
• Siquijor,
• Iloilo,
• Capiz,
• Aklan,
• Antique
• Guimaras
• Agusan del Sur,
• Agusan del Norte,
• the rest of Surigao del Norte,
• Dinagat Islands,
• the northern portion of Bukidnon (Malitbog, Impasug-Ong, Sumilao, Manolo Fortich, Libona, Baungon),
• Misamis Oriental,
• Camiguin,
• the northern portion of Misamis Occidental (Plaridel, Baliangao, Sapang Dalaga), and the
• northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Dapitan City, Sibutad, Rizal, La Libertad, Dipolog City)

Under TCWS No. 1, "[s]trong winds [are] prevailing or expected within 36 hours," PAGASA said.

As of 10 a.m., PAGASA said the center of Typhoon Odette was estimated at 590 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

It has maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 150 km/h, and central pressure of 975 hPa.

"Strong winds or higher also extend outwards up to 330 km from the center," PAGASA said. 

Landfall

In a press briefing, PAGASA weather specialist Nikos Peñaranda said Typhoon Odette may make landfall in the vicinity of Caraga or Eastern Samar on Thursday afternoon or evening.

“After dumaan dito sa Cuyo archipelago, ‘pag emerge niya, ang bagyo ay pagkadaan ng Visayas, dadaanan naman ito sa northern portion ng Palawan mga Biyernes na. So, maraming landfall ang asahan natin dahil nga maraming islang daraanan ang naturang bagyo,” he said.

(After passing through Cuyo archipelago, Odette is forecast to cross the northern portion of Palawan by Friday. We can expect plenty of landfalls as the typhoon will cross lots of islands.)

Typhoon Odette is also forecast to reach a peak intensity of 155 km/h prior to making landfall.

PAGASA said that areas under TCWS No. 2 would experience gale- to storm-force strength that could result in light to moderate damage to structures and vegetation.

Areas under TCWS No. 1, on the other hand, would experience strong winds with higher gusts that may generally bring up to very light damage to structures and vegetation.

“‘Yung pinakamataas na signal na maaring itaas, so ayan ay may lead time na 12 oras, ay ang Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 dahil nga itong Bagyong Odette ay aasahan natin na maraming lugar sa kabisayaan ang kaniyang dadaanan,” Peñaranda said.

(The highest TCWS that we can raise is number 3 as we expect that Typhoon Odette will pass through many areas in the Visayas region.)

He said sea travel is risky in seaboards of areas under TCWS Nos. 1 and 2. Flooding and rain-induced landslides are also expected in certain areas. 

Bracing for Odette

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), all disaster units are already on alert for Typhoon Odette, with some local government units already suspending classes and work schedules.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), meanwhile, reported on Wednesday that a total of 1,606 people, 879 rolling cargoes and 13 vessels and two motor bancas were stranded in different parts of the country as of noon due to Odette.

 —KBK, GMA News