'Odette' almost stationary; storm signals lifted

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Storm "Odette" is expected to stay almost on its place but it continues to enhance the southwest monsoon, the state weather bureau PAGASA said Tuesday afternoon.

As of 4 p.m., the storm's center was estimated at 815 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City and is expected to remain almost stationary.

With this latest update, PAGASA lifted public storm warning signals previously raised over Cagayan including the Calayan and Babuyan group of islands.

Odette is packed with maximum winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Heavy to intense rainfall (15 to 20 millimeters per hour) is expected within the 350-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm.

PAGASA said it is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over the western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The agency warned that sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and Palawan.