Typhoon Odette weakens a bit as it passes northern Bohol

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Odette slightly weakened although it kept its strong cyclone status as it crossed the northern portion of Bohol province on Thursday night, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Based on the 7:00 p.m. weather update of Pagasa, Odette was spotted over President Carlos P. Garcia town in Bohol, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph.

Odette was at the time moving west at a speed of 30 kph, the state weather service said.

As predicted by Pagasa, Odette’s eye touched land anew over Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte at 5:40 p.m.; President Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol, 6:30 p.m.; and Bien Unido, Bohol, 7:30 p.m. These occurred after three landfalls since 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

READ: ‘Odette’ makes 3rd landfall in Liloan; keeps strength as it crosses Southern Leyte

According to Pagasa, Odette may only weaken a little due to interaction with terrain but it may regain its power again once it starts moving over the West Philippine Sea. After that, it may gradually reduce strength due to the effects of wind shear and the northeast monsoon surge.

Forecasts from the government weather bureau showed that Odette would still traverse several provinces in Central and Western Visayas before moving to the Sulu Sea by Friday morning.

After passing near, or over the vicinity of Cuyo or Cagayancillo archipelago, the typhoon would travel over the northern or central section of Palawan by Friday afternoon.

Odette may leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Saturday afternoon, Pagasa said.

As of this writing, Pagasa raised various Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals over certain areas on the path of Odette.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4

Visayas

• Southern Leyte
• southwestern portion of Leyte (Hilongos, Bato, Matalom)
• Bohol
• central and southern portions of Cebu (Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Consolacion, Liloan, Toledo City, City of Talisay, Minglanilla, City of Naga, Pinamungahan, San Fernando, City of Carcar, Aloguinsan, Barili, Sibonga, Dumanjug, Ronda, Argao, Alcantara, Moalboal, Badian, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Alegria, Malabuyoc, Boljoon, Oslob, Ginatilan, Samboan, Santander)
• central and southern portions of Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, City of Guihulngan, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Manjuyod, Mabinay, City of Bayawan, Basay, Bais City, Pamplona, San Jose, City of Tanjay, Amlan)
• central and southern portions of Negros Occidental (La Castellana, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Binalbagan, City of Himamaylan, City of Kabankalan, Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni, City of Sipalay, Hinoba-An)

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3

Luzon

• Cagayancillo and Cuyo Islands

Visayas

• The rest of southern portion of Leyte (Abuyog, Mahaplag, Hindang, Inopacan, City of Baybay, Javier, Macarthur)
• northern portion of Cebu (Camotes Islands, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Asturias, Balamban, Dalaguete, Sogod)
• the rest of Negros Oriental, Siquijor
• northern portion of Negros Occidental (Calatrava, San Carlos City, Salvador Benedicto, City of Talisay, Silay City, Bacolod City, Murcia, Bago City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, La Carlota City, San Enrique)
• Guimaras
• southern portion of Iloilo (Iloilo City, Pavia, Leganes, Santa Barbara, San Miguel, Alimodian, Oton, Leon, Tigbauan, Tubungan, Igbaras, Guimbal, Miagao, San Joaquin, Dumangas, Zarraga, New Lucena, Cabatuan, Maasin)
• southern portion of Antique (San Remigio, Patnongon, Belison, San Jose, Sibalom, Hamtic, Tobias Fornier, Anini-Y)

Mindanao

• northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, City of Cabadbaran)
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands

Pagasa said areas under Signal No. 4 may experience “very destructive typhoon-force winds” within the next 12 hours while those under Signal No. 3 may feel destructive typhoon-force winds.

Pagasa then warned that heavy torrential rains may occur in Central Visayas, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Southern Leyte, and Negros Occidental from Thursday night until early Friday morning.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will also likely prevail over Leyte, the southern portions of Eastern Samar and Samar, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and the rest of Northern Mindanao during the same time period.

Starting Friday morning up to Saturday morning, Pagasa said the heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will be felt over Negros Oriental, Western Visayas, and Palawan including Calamian Islands, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands.

Meanwhile, the provinces of Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, and the rest of Visayas was predicted to possibly experience moderate to heavy with at times intense rains.

KGA