(UPDATE) Tropical Storm Odette (Rai) intensified into a typhoon on Wednesday, PAGASA said, as it raised Signal no. 2 over Surigao provinces ahead of its landfall the next day.
Odette, the 15th storm of 2021, was spotted 590 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur at 10 a.m., packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph with 150 kph gusts, said weather forecaster Nikos Peñaranda.
Odette will bring moderate with at times heavy rains in Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands and Southern Leyte on Wednesday. From Thursday to Friday, it will bring heavy to intense rains in large swaths of Visayas and Mindanao, Bicol Region, Mindoro provinces, and Romblon.
Odette could reach its peak intensity at 155kph, bringing signal no. 3 rains before making landfall in Eastern Visayas or Caraga late Thursday, said PAGASA.
"Maraming landfall po ang asahan natin dahil nga po maraming isla na dadaanan ang naturang bagyo," Peñaranda said.
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Signal no. 2 (61 to 120 kph winds) was raised over:
- Eastern portion of Surigao del Norte (Claver, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands)
- Surigao del Sur
Winds could cause light to moderate damage to high-risk structures, while old, dilapidated structures or makeshift shanties may be damaged or unroofed.
Signal no. 1 (30-60 kph winds) was raised over:
Luzon
- Sorsogon
- Masbate including Ticao Island
- Southern portion of Romblon (Cajidiocan, San Fernando, Magdiwang, Alcantara, Looc, Santa Fe, San Jose)
Visayas
- Eastern Samar
- Northern Samar
- Samar
- Leyte
- Biliran
- Southern Leyte
- Bohol
- Cebu
- Negros Oriental
- Negros Occidental
- Siquijor
- Iloilo
- Capiz
- Aklan
- Antique
- Guimaras
Mindanao
- Agusan del Sur
- Agusan del Norte
- Rest of Surigao del Norte
- Dinagat Islands
- Northern portion of Bukidnon (Malitbog, Impasug-Ong, Sumilao, Manolo Fortich, Libona, Baungon), Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, the northern portion of Misamis Occidental (Plaridel, Baliangao, Sapang Dalaga)
- Northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Dapitan City, Sibutad, Rizal, La Libertad, Dipolog City)
Signal no. 1 winds can damage structures made of light materials, PAGASA said.
PAGASA also released a storm surge watch, warning residents in low-lying coastal areas in Visayas, southern portion of Masbate, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, and Misamis Occidental of rising sea waters with waves as high as two meters in the next 48 hours from Wednesday noon.
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