PAGASA: Super typhoon Odette 30 kms off Batanes, may exit PAR Saturday afternoon

Super typhoon Odette (international name Usagi) intensified further and was 30 kilometers off Batanes early Saturday, though it is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility as early as Saturday afternoon, state weather forecasters said. Meanwhile, PAGASA forecaster Connie Dadivas said over radio dzBB that, despite its proximity, there was little chance the super typhoon would make landfall over Batanes, but its effects will obviously still be felt over the province. Dadivas added Odette was projected to head for Taiwan, and possibly China, after exiting the PAR. However, she warned that even with Odette gone, there may still be rain until at least Tuesday due to the southwest monsoon, which is being enhanced by another weather system outside the Philippine area of responsibility. Advisory PAGASA's 5 a.m. advisory said that as of 4 a.m., Odette was estimated at 30 km east of Basco, Batanes. It packed maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 250 kph. It is forecast to move west-northwest at 19 kph. With Odette expected to exit the PAR by Saturday afternoon, by Sunday morning, it is expected to be at 380 km northwest of Basco, Batanes or 230 km west of Southern Taiwan. Storm Signal No. 4 is over Batanes, while Signal No. 3 is over Calayan and Babuyan Islands. Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Cagayan, Apayao and Ilocos Norte. Areas under Signal No. 1 include Abra, Kalinga, Isabela, Northern Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province and Ifugao. PAGASA said Odette may bring rainfall of 10 to 20 mm per hour (heavy to intense) within its 900-km diameter. Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm signals to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides. Those in coastal areas under signals 2 to 4 against storm surges. Odette will also enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring "moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon and Western Visayas." "Residents in these areas are advised to be alert against flash floods and landslides," said the weather service. Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas. Outlook PAGASA's 5 a.m. bulletin said Batanes, Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands, Apayao and Ilocos Norte will experience stormy weather. Metro Manila, the rest of Central Luzon and of Calabarzon, Visayas and Mindanao will have "cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms." The rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, PAGASA said. Meanwhile, moderate to strong winds from the southwest to west over Central and southern Luzon and coming from the northeast to northwest over the rest of Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the southwest with slight to moderate seas. — DVM, GMA News