90% chance Typhoon Odette will hit Cebu

CEBU, Philippines —   A tropical cyclone is forecast to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday, December 14, and expected to cross Central Visayas, with a 90 percent probability of hitting Cebu, the state weather bureau said yesterday, December 12.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that the weather disturbance is projected to develop into a tropical depression Tuesday and will also named “Odette” once it enters PAR.

From there, it is further seen to intensify into a tropical cyclone and traverse between Visayas and Mindanao on Thursday and Friday.

In the next two days, PAGASA projects cloudy skies with scattered moderate to heavy rains over Central Visayas. Thereafter, heavy to intense rains may be expected.

According to forecast, Cebu City would experience wind speeds of up to 65kph on December 16 to 17 and rainfall up to 80 mm (400,000 barrels per square kilometer) or more.

“Dako ang kahigayunan nga moabot kini sa gikusgon nga 65 hangtud 100kph. Nagpasabot nga maabtan ta og labing menos signal No. 2. May igong pwersa gyud kini. Apan dili lang kini mao’y atong angay nga kabalak-an. Gibana-bana man gud nga magdala kini’g ulan nga moabot og dili mo menos sa 80 millimeters sa usa ka adlaw, kon mga 400,000 drums per square kilometer,” said Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday.

By contrast, the city, on the average, only experiences 154 millimeters of rain for the entire month of December.

Based on the color-coded heavy rainfall warning, 150,000 drums per square kilometer is already under the red warning.

Preparations

Rama has instructed concerned departments and residents to prepare for the typhoon this early.

“Mga kaigsuonan, pipila ka adlaw gikan karon, aduna’y bagyo nga gibana-bana nga anhi nato sa Sugbo, mismo sa atong dakbayan, mo-agi. Gikatakda kining mosulod sa Philippine Area of Responsibility karong Martes kining manganlan og si Bagyong Odette. Sumala sa PAG-ASA, 90 porsyento kining moagi nato karong Huwebes o Biyernes,” he said.

As early as Friday, December 10, the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office already conducted a pre-disaster risk assessment on the upcoming weather disturbance, according to CDRRMO officer-in-charge Ramil Ayuman.

Ayuman said CDRRMO is already in the process of identifying possible evacuation sites for those who need to move to safer grounds.

PAGASA’s report yesterday showed that the erstwhile low pressure area (LPA) outside the PAR had already intensified into a tropical depression and may further intensify into a tropical storm within the next 24 hours.

Rama sent early warnings to those living on the hilly side or landslide-prone areas and those along waterways and coastlines.

“Mao nga dili lang gyud ta magkompyansa. Motaas gyud ang tubig. Ma-anaa sa makuyaw nga kahimtang ang mga namuyo kilid sa mga sapa ug paatubang sa mga baybayon,” he said.

“Mangandam na tang daan. Pangandam na mo, ilabi na niining mga delikadong lugar. Kamong namuyo diha, sayud na mo ana, sumala sa inyong naaging mga kasinati-an. Wa ta kahibalo sa epekto unya niini sa atong kuryente ug supply sa tubig, ug sa ubang naandan natong panginabuhi-an. Mao nga pangandam. Mangandam ta. Be prepared,” said Rama. — JMD (FREEMAN)