MANILA, Philippines — The severe tropical storm off the coast of Mindanao entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) at around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
It is now named Odette (international name Rai) – the 15th storm to cross the country this year.
At 7:00 PM today, Severe Tropical Storm RAI entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility and was assigned the domestic name #OdettePH. Tropical Cyclone Bulletins will be issued beginning at 11:00 PM today. pic.twitter.com/32Kw7qK5h3
— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) December 14, 2021
Pagasa said in an earlier forecast that the storm may further strengthen into a typhoon before making landfall in Eastern Visayas on Thursday.
READ: Pagasa: Eastern Visayas may be placed under Signal No.1 as early as Wednesday
Parts of the said region may already be placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as early as Wednesday, according to the state weather bureau.
Based on Pagasa’s 5 p.m. bulletin, the tropical storm has wind speeds of up to 100 km per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 125 kph as it moved west-northwest at 25 kph.
Pagasa said tropical cyclone bulletins associated with severe tropical storm Odette will be issued beginning at 11 p.m. Tuesday.
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