8 areas under Signal No.3 amid Odette's 'rapid intensification' —PAGASA

Eight areas remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 due to Typhoon Odette, which underwent "rapid intensification," according to state weather bureau PAGASA on Thursday morning.

"Considering the on-going rapid intensification of the typhoon, there is an increasing likelihood that TCWS #4 will be hoisted for several localities near and along the immediate path of the typhoon," PAGASA said in its 8 a.m. bulletin.

PAGASA said Odette was located at 265 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte at 7 a.m. packing maximum sustained winds of 165 km per hour and gustiness of up to 205 km/h, and central pressure of 950 hPa.

With strong winds extending outwards up to 480 km from the center, Odette was moving west northwestward at 25 km/h.

Under TCWS No. 3 were:

• Southern Leyte
• the southern portion of Leyte (Abuyog, Mahaplag, City of Baybay, Inopacan, Hindang, Hilongos, Bato, Matalom, Javier)
• Bohol
• the central and southern portions of Cebu (Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Cebu City, City of Talisay, Minglanilla, City of Naga, San Fernando, Ginatilan, Samboan, Santander, Oslob, Badian, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Malabuyoc, Alegria, Argao, Catmon, Tuburan, Asturias, Sogod, Balamban, Toledo City, Pinamungahan, City of Carcar, Aloguinsan, Barili, Dumanjug, Sibonga, Moalboal, Ronda, Alcantara) including Camotes Islands
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Tubay, Santiago, Jabonga, Kitcharao),
• the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza, Cortes, City of Tandag)

TCWS No. 2, meanwhile, was raised over these areas:

• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands, Cuyo Islands, Cagayancillo Islands
• the southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bongabong, Roxas, Mansalay, Bulalacao),
• Romblon
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• the rest of Leyte
• the rest of Cebu including Bantayan Islands
• Negros Oriental
• Negros Occidental
• Siquijor
• Guimara
• Iloilo
• Antique
• Capiz,
• Aklan
• the rest of Surigao del Sur
• the rest of Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• the northern portion of Bukidnon (Malitbog, ImpasugOng, Manolo Fortich, Libona, Baungon, Sumilao) Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, the
• northern portion of Misamis Occidental (Lopez Jaena, Plaridel, Baliangao, Calamba, Sapang Dalaga, Concepcion, Oroquieta City, Aloran)
• and the extreme northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Rizal, Sibutad, Dapitan City, Dipolog City, Polanco, Piñan, La Libertad, Mutia)

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was up over the following areas:

• Catanduanes
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Burias Island
• Marinduque
• the southern portion of Quezon (San Antonio, Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya, Dolores, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Padre Burgos, Atimonan, Agdangan,Unisan, Gumaca, Plaridel, Pitogo, Lopez, Guinayangan, Buenavista, Catanauan, General Luna, Macalelon, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Quezon, Alabat, City of Tayabas, Perez)
• Batangas
• Oriental Mindoro
• Occidental Mindoro
• mainland Palawan including Balabac, Calamian, and Kalayaan Islands
• the northern portion of Davao Oriental (Baganga, Cateel, Boston)
• the northern portion of Davao de Oro (Laak, Mawab, Nabunturan, Montevista, Monkayo, New Bataan, Compostela)
• the northern portion of Davao del Norte (Talaingod, Santo Tomas, Kapalong, Asuncion, San Isidro, New Corella)
• the rest of Misamis Occidental
• the rest of Bukidnon
• Lanao de Norte
• Lanao del Sur
• the northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Labason, Kalawit, Tampilisan, Liloy, Salug, Godod, Bacungan, Sindangan, Siayan, Jose Dalman, Manukan, Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Sergio Osmeña Sr., Gutalac, Baliguian)
• the northern portion of Zamboanga del Sur (Bayog, Lakewood, Kumalarang, Guipos, Mahayag, Dumalinao, Tukuran, Tambulig, Ramon Magsaysay, Aurora, Molave, Sominot, Tigbao, Labangan, Josefina, Pagadian City, Midsalip, Dumingag)
• the northern portion of Zamboanga Sibugay (Titay, Ipil, Naga, Kabasalan, Siay, Diplahan, Buug)

PAGASA said Odette will continue moving generally westward over the Philippine Sea.

"The center of its eye is forecast to make its initial landfall in the vicinity of Dinagat Islands, Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands, or the northern portion of Surigao del Sur this noon or early afternoon," it added. 

Afterwards, Odette is expected to move westward and cross several provinces in Central and Western Visayas regions before emerging over the Sulu Sea on Friday morning.

Rainfall

For Thursday through Friday morning, heavy to torrential rains are expected over Caraga, Central Visayas, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Southern Leyte, and Negros Occidental, PAGASA said.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains can be experienced in Leyte, the southern portions of Eastern Samar and Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and the rest of Northern Mindanao.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains may be encountered in Bicol Region, Quezon, and the rest of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and mainland Bangsamoro.

PAGASA warned of possible scattered to widespread flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides in areas that are prone to these hazards as identified in hazard maps, and in localities with significant antecedent rainfall.

Winds

In areas under Signal No. 3, PAGASA said destructive typhoon-force winds can be expected that may cause moderate to heavy damage to structures and vegetation, PAGASA said.

Damaging winds reaching gale- to storm-force strength will be experienced in areas under Signal No. 2 that may bring generally light to moderate damage to structures and vegetation.

In areas under Signal No. 1, PAGASA said strong winds, from strong breeze to near gale, with higher gusts will be experienced during the passage of the typhoon. It may cause very light damage to structures and vegetation.

Coastal inundation

PAGASA warned of moderate to high risk of storm surge of up to 3.0 m that may cause life-threatening flooding in the low-lying coastal areas in the following areas:

• Central Visayas
• Northern Mindanao
• Iloilo
• Guimaras
• Negros Occidental
• Eastern Samar
• Southern Leyte
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• several localities in the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands, Antique, the southern portion of Samar, Leyte, and Davao Oriental

Hazards in coastal waters

Moderate to very high seas of up to  10 m will be experienced over the seaboards of areas where TCWS is in effect (especially in the open sea areas) in the next 24 hours.

“These conditions are risky for all types of sea vessels. Mariners are advised to remain in port or take shelter in port until winds and waves subside,” PAGASA said.

A Gale Warning is still in effect in several coastal waters not under any wind signal, like the seaboards of Northern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.

Moderate to rough seas of up to 3.1 meters are expected over the remaining seaboards of the country that are not under any wind signal.

“These conditions are risky for those using small seacraft. Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” PAGASA warned. 

Dinagat Islands

In Dinagat Islands in the Caraga region, a total of 6,310 people in 1,997 families have been evacuated, according to Governor Arlene Bag-ao.

Dinagat Islands is one the areas Odette is seen to make landfall.

"Ang huling update sa akin ng PAGASA, ang unang landfall ay sa Dinagat, at ito ay darating na pinakamalakas nang around 12 noon to 6 p.m.," Bag-ao told Super Radyo dzBB.

(The last update from state weather bureau PAGASA was the first landfall will be in Dinagat and it will be at its strongest between 12 noon to 6 p.m.)

Dinagat Islands was under TCWS No. 3 as of Thursday morning.  —KBK, GMA News