'Odette' may be out of PAR Saturday night - PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines – Super typhoon "Odette" may be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Saturday night, the state weather bureau said in its Friday night bulletin.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that as of 10 p.m., the typhoon's center was estimated at 120 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes.

"Odette" maintained its super typhoon level packing maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 240 kph.

The typhoon was moving west northwest or toward the extreme Northern Luzon at a speed of 19 kph.

PAGASA said the typhoon may be outside the PAR, 270 kilometers west of Basco, Batanes or 150 kilometers southwest of Southern Taiwan, by Saturday evening.

Public storm warning signal number 4 remains hoisted over the Batanes Group of Islands, signal no. 3 over Calayan Group of Islands, signal number 2 over Cagayan, Apayao and Ilocos Norte.

Storm warning signal no. 1 was hoisted over:

Abra
Kalinga
Isabela
Northern Aurora
Quirino
Nueva Vizcaya
Benguet
La Union
Ilocos Sur
Mt. Province
Ifugao

PAGASA said the estimated rainfall amount within the typhoon's 900 km diameter was 10 to 20 millimeters per hour or heavy to intense rains.

"Residents in low lying and mountainous areas under signals #4, #3, #2 & #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under signal #4, #3 and #2 are alerted against storm surges," the weather bureau warned.

The weather bureau said the typhoon will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon and will bring heavy rains and thunderstorms over the western section of Southern Luzon and Visayas.

"Residents in these areas are advised to be alert against flashfloods and landslides," it added. "Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas."