Odette now out of PAR; northern Luzon still affected

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Odette (international name Usagi) is now out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), but will continue to affect the extreme northern Luzon area.

As of 10 pm Saturday, September 21, Odette was located 240 km west of Itbayat, Batanes (21.2°N, 119.3°E), carrying maximum winds of 160 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 195 km/h.

The typhoon went outside PAR at 7 pm.

Only the Batanes Group of Islands remain under storm signal number 2, the state weather bureau PAGASA reported in its 11 pm bulletin.

Storm warning signal number 1 is hoisted over these areas:

• Northern Cagayan
• Calayan Group of Islands
• Babuyan Group of Islands
• Apayao
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur

Storm signals elsewhere have been lowered, PAGASA said. Residents in areas with storm signals should remain alerted against flash floods and landslides, as well as storm surges.

Heavy to intense rainfall can be felt within the storm’s 700 km diameter.

The typhoon, sustaining its west northwest movement at a speed of 19 km/h, will continue to move towards Hong Kong. It is expected to be 90 kms east of the city by Sunday evening.

Odette will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing light to moderate rain and thunderstorms over the western sections of Central and Southern Luzon, and of Visayas.

The next bulletin on Odette will be at 5 am Sunday, September 22. – Rappler.com