More storm signals up in 9 areas as ‘Odette’ intensifies

MT Satellite image September 19, 2013, Thursday, 11:32Am. Screengrab from https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/

MANILA, Philippines – More areas were placed under storm signals as typhoon “Odette” (international name Usagi) intensified while at sea midday Thursday.

Signal No. 2 is now raised in Cagayan, Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Areas under Signal No. 1 are Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Kalinga, Isabela and Batanes Group of Islands.

The typhoon gained more strength as it hovered over the sea. It was last observed 610 kilometers east of Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 170 kph.

It continued to move west at 13 kph, Pagasa said.

Heavy to intense rains were seen within its 600 kilometer-diameter of Odette.

Residents under storm signals were alerted to flashfloods, landslides and storm surges.

Sea travel remained risky over the seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and Palawan and over the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon and of Visayas, Pagasa said.

The typhoon will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon which will bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Zambales and Bataan.

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Odette now a typhoon; No. 1 up over extreme N. Luzon—Pagasa