Signal No. 3 still up over Kalayaan Islands as Odette slightly intensifies

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 remained raised over Kalayaan Islands as Typhoon Odette slightly intensified on Saturday, endangering the island group, PAGASA reported.

In its 11 a.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said Kalayaan Islands have destructive typhoon-force winds prevailing or expected within 18 hours.

PAGASA also raised TCWS No. 1 over the western portion of Palawan (San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City, Aborlan, Quezon, Rizal, Taytay, El Nido).

These areas have strong winds prevailing or expected within 36 hours.

Track, intensity outlook

Odette is forecast to move west northwestward and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday morning or afternoon while over the West Philippine Sea.

The typhoon is also forecast to pass in the vicinity of Kalayaan Islands on Saturday.

"A slight re-intensification may take place today as ODETTE moves over the West Philippine Sea. However, the eventual exposure of the typhoon to increasing vertical wind shear and the surge of the Northeast Monsoon will result in a weakening trend beginning tomorrow (Sunday)," PAGASA said.

Hazards on land areas

According to PAGASA, heavy to torrential rains are expected over Kalayaan Islands, while moderate to heavy rains will be over the northern and eastern portions of Cagayan, the eastern portion of Isabela, Apayao, Aurora, and the northern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands.

Further, light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Northern Samar, and the rest of Cagayan, Isabela, and Quezon.

PAGASA warned that a moderate to high risk of storm surge remains which may result in life-threatening coastal flooding in Kalayaan Islands.

In addition, coastal areas of localities under TCWS #1 may also experience coastal flooding due to hazardous surf conditions.

Hazards on coastal waters

PAGASA said rough to very high seas (2.8 to 10.0 m) will be experienced over the seaboards of areas where TCWS #3 is in effect (especially in the open sea areas) in the next 24 hours, while rough to very rough seas (2.8 to 5.0 m) will continue for the seaboards of areas under TCWS #1.

A gale warning remains in effect for several coastal waters not under any wind signal, specifically the seaboards of Northern Luzon, and the eastern and western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon due to the influence of Typhoon Odette and the prevailing Northeast Monsoon, PAGASA said.

Moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 4.0 m) will also prevail over the remaining seaboards of the country that are not under any wind signal or gale warning, specifically the seaboards of Visayas and the northern, western, and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

As of 10 a.m., the center of the eye of Typhoon Odette was located based on all available data at 380 km west northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan or 155 km East of Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan.

It has maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 190 km/h, and central pressure of 955 hPa

Odette is moving westward at 25 km/h, with strong winds or higher extending outwards up to 400 km from the center. —KG, GMA News