Storm signals lifted as Typhoon Odette barrels toward Vietnam, China — Pagasa
Residents walk past downed electric pylons in Talisay town, Cebu province on December 17, 2021, a day after Super Typhoon Rai pummelled the southern and central regions of the Philippines. (Alan TANGCAWAN / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS) are now lifted in all parts of the country as Typhoon Odette maintains its strength outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.
As of 10 a.m., the center of the eye of the typhoon was located approximately 430 kilometers northwest of Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan.
The typhoon, which devastated parts of Visayas and Mindanao before leaving PAR, currently packs maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 240 kph while moving northwest at 15 kph.
“‘Odette’ is unlikely to directly affect the weather condition and bring heavy rainfall in the country throughout the forecast period. However, the shear line will bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, and Camarines Norte,” Pagasa said.
According to the weather bureau, the typhoon will move north northwest this Sunday through Monday morning, then generally northeast for the remainder of the forecast period over the sea, east of central Vietnam and Hainan Island.
“The gradual exposure of Odette to cooler sea surface temperatures in the northwestern portion of the West Philippine Sea, increasing vertical wind shear, and the surge of the Northeast Monsoon will result in a weakening trend,” Pagasa also said.
“Odette” is forecast to be downgraded to severe tropical storm category by Monday afternoon or evening.
Rough seas alert
Pagasa warned that rough to very rough seas (3.4 to 5.0 meters) will be experienced over the seaboard of Kalayaan Islands in the next 24 hours.
Pagasa said these conditions are risky for all types of vessels. It also advised mariners to remain in port or take shelter until the strong winds and waves subside.
A gale warning remains in effect for 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.
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