Super Typhoon USAGI / Odette hitting Batanes tonight

Typhoon USAGI / Odette  as an extremely dangerous Category 5 Super Typhoon endangers extreme Northern Luzon and Southern Taiwan particularly the Batanes Islands. Outer rainbands now spreading across all Northern Luzon.

PAGASA has now declared Storm Signal #4 over the Batanes Islands. Storm Signal #4 means:

• Coconut plantation may suffer extensive damage 
• Many large trees maybe uprooted 
• Rice and corn plantation may suffer severe losses 
• Most residential and institutional buildings of mixed construction material maybe severely damaged 
• Electrical power distribution and communication services maybe severely disrupted 
• In the overall, damage to affected communities can be very heavy 
• The situation is potentially very destructive to communities 
• All travel and outdoor activities should be cancelled 
• Evacuation to much safer shelters should have been completed earlier since it maybe too late under this situation 

The picture of the typhoon is terrifying

.The forecast track shows that the typhoon will reach the Batanes Islands tomorrow morning.

PAGASA has declared Storm Signal #4 in:

• Batanes Group of Islands

PAGASA Storm Signal #3 in:

• Calayan Islands
• Babuyan Group of Islands.

PAGASA Storm Signal #1 in:

• Abra
• Kalinga
• Isabela
• Northern Aurora
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Benguet
• La Union
• Ilocos Sur
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao

Storm data:

Name (INTL. / local):	USAGI / Odette
Class:	Super Typhoon Category 5
Time/Date of observation:	05:00 p.m. on September 20, 2013
Location of Center:	19.8º North 124.1º East
Moving Direction and Speed:	WNW at 15 km/h
Moving towards:	Batanes Islands / Taiwan
Distance from the Philippines:	220 km East of Basco, Batanes
Estimated Date / Time of Landfall:	Batanes Islands Saturday 08:00 a.m.
Max. Wind Speed near Center:	245 km/h
Peak Wind Gusts:	295 km/h
Minimum Central Pressure:	910 hPa
Diameter:	1010 km (very large)
24h Rainfall near Center:	500 mm
Max. Wave Height:	14 m
Here you find how to read and understand this data

We keep an eye on this storm. For more and real-time information see here:
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