‘Odette’ strengthens into severe tropical storm

“Odette” (international name Khanun) intensified into severe tropical storm on Friday afternoon as it headed towards the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its latest bulletin.

The weather bureau placed under Signal No. 1 the following areas:

• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Batanes
• Babuyan group of Islands

According to Pagasa, Odette packed maximum sustained winds of 90 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 113 kph.  Pagasa also estimated the tropical storm’s rainfall amount from moderate to heavy within its 400 kilometer diameter.

Moderate to occasionally heavy rains is expected over the provinces of Zambales and Bataan, Pagasa noted.

Additionally, the weather bureau said Odette slightly slowed down, moving west northwest at 15 kph. It was last observed 205 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur.

Pagasa projected Odette to exit the Philippine area of responsibility between Friday night and Saturday morning.

Pagasa said sea travel remains risky over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, seaboards of Western and Southern Luzon due to the passage of Odette.             /kga