Tropical storm ‘Odette’ intensifies; rains to continue

MT Satellite image September 18, 2013, Wednesday, 7:32AM. Screengrab from https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/

MANILA, Philippines—Tropical storm “Odette” (international name: Usagi) intensified over Cagayan early Wednesday, now packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 100 kph, the state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

The storm was last observed 790 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City and was forecast to move westward.

Heavy to intense rains are seen within its 350-kilometer diameter. It will also continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, or hanging habagat, which will bring light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over the western section of Central and southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Meanwhile, sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and Palawan, Pagasa said.

The provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas and Mindoro will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms, which may trigger flashfloods and landslides, Pagasa said.

Pagasa said Metro Manila will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.