'Odette' gains more strength but remains almost stationary

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Storm "Odette" has gained more strength but it has yet to move closer to the country, the state weather bureau said Wednesday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of "Odette" was located at 800 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City at 10 a.m. today.

The tropical storm is packed with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and with gustiness of up to 120 kilometers per hour.

It is projected to move west at seven kilometers per hour.

"Tropical storm 'Odette' has intensified further as it remains almost stationary," PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. update.

Heavy to intense rainfall (15 to 20 millimeters per hour) is expected within the 500-kilometer diameter of the tropical storm.

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

Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Occidental Mindoro and Palawan, the agency also warned.

In its 24-hour weather forecast, PAGASA said the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas and Mindoro will experience cloudy skies with moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms that may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

Metro Manila, the rest of Central Luzon and 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 and thunderstorms.

PAGASA said in its Twitter account at 10 a.m. that thunderstorm is more likely to develop over Metro Manila within the next 12 hours.