Odette maintains strength, out of PH by Saturday evening
MANILA, Philippines – The Batanes Group of Islands continue to bear the wrath of Typhoon Odette, as it maintains its strength and continues to move toward the extreme northern Luzon area.
Storm warning signal number 4 remains hoisted over Batanes.
In its Friday 11pm bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said that Typhoon Odette (international name Usagi) was located 120 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, as of 10 pm, September 20.
It packs maximun sustained winds of 205 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 240 kph.
It is forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph. It is seen to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday evening, at 270 km west of Basco or at 150 km southwest of southern Taiwan.
The following storm warning signals have been placed over provinces in northern Luzon:
Storm warning signal number 4 (winds of over 185 km/h in the next 12 hours):
Batanes Group of Islands
Storm warning signal number 3 (winds of 101-185 km/h in the next 18 hours):
Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands
Storm warning signal number 2 (winds of 61-100 km/h in the next 24 hours):
Apayao
Cayagan
Ilocos Norte
Storm warning signal number 1 (winds of 30-60 km/h within the next 36 hours):
Abra
Kalinga
Isabela
Northern Aurora
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
Benguet
La Union
Ilocos Sur
Mountain Province
Ifugao
The last time PAGASA raised storm signal number 4 was in August 2011, during Typhoon Mina.
Odette is the strongest typhoon so far in the world this year, reports the Washington Post, citing the Joint Typhoon Warning Center of the US Department of Defense.
Odette is expected to bring 10-20 millimeters of rain per hour within the 900 km diameter of the storm.
Residents in areas under the storm signals are cautioned against possible flashfloods, landslides and storm surges.
Western sections of Southern Luzon and Visayas can expect moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms, as the typhoon will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon. Residents in these areas are advised to watch out for possible flashfloods and landslides.
PAGASA also said sea travel is risky over the Luzon and Visayas seaboards.
The weather bureau will next issue a bulletin on Odette at 5 am tomorrow, September 21. – Rappler.com
