Odette maintains strength as Signal No. 3 still up in Palawan areas

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 remains hoisted over parts of  Palawan as Typhoon Odette maintained strength while moving towards the Kalayaan Islands, the weather bureau PAGASA said on Friday night.

Based on PAGASA’s 11 p.m. weather bulletin, the center of Odette was spotted 105 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

It has sustained maximum winds of 150 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

According to the weather bureau, it was moving westward northwestward at 20 kph.

PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 was raised over the following areas:

• northern portion of Palawan ((El Nido, Taytay, San Vicente, Puerto Princesa City) including Kalayaan Islands

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 2 was hoisted over the following areas:

• central portion of Palawan (Aborlan, Narra, Quezon, Sofronio Española, Brooke's Point, Rizal, Dumaran, Araceli, Roxas) including Calamian Islands

Under TCWS No. 1 are:

• rest of Palawan including Cuyo and Cagayancillo Islands

PAGASA said heavy to torrential rains will be experienced in Kalayaan Islands on Friday night until Saturday.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains will be experienced over mainland Palawan, Calamian Islands, Quezon, Camarines Provinces, Catanduanes, and Aurora.

While over the West Philippine Sea, the typhoon is forecast to move west northwestward and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday morning or early afternoon.

PAGASA said Odette is forecast to pass in the vicinity of Kalayaan Islands on Saturday.—LDF, GMA News