By Brian Campued
Tropical Depression Wilma may make landfall over Eastern Samar or Northern Samar this Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In its bulletin issued at 5:00 p.m., PAGASA said Wilma maintained its strength while remaining almost stationary over the coastal waters of Can-avid, Eastern Samar. It packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
While forecast to remain as a tropical depression throughout its passage over Visayas and Palawan until next week, the state weather bureau said the cold and dry winds from the northeast monsoon (amihan) may also weaken Wilma.
Despite this scenario, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains hoisted over most parts of Visayas as well as portions of MIMAROPA and Bicol Region:
- Sorsogon
- Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
- Romblon
- Southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Bongabong, Bansud)
- Southern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan,Sablayan)
- Northernmost portion of Palawan (Araceli, Dumaran, El Nido, Taytay, Roxas, San Vicente) including Cuyo, Calamian, and Cagayancillo Islands
- Northern Samar
- Eastern Samar
- Samar
- Biliran
- Northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Mahaplag, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Inopacan, Jaro, Abuyog, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Javier, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Hindang, City of Baybay, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo)
- Northern and central portions of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Sogod, Catmon, Asturias, Carmen, Danao City, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Cebu City, City of Talisay, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Pinamungahan, City of Naga, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands
- Northern portion of Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, City of Guihulngan)
- Northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, City of Victorias, Manapla, Cadiz City, Bacolod City, City of Talisay, Silay City, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Murcia, Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Valladolid, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Isabela, Hinigaran)
- Guimaras
- Iloilo
- Capiz
- Aklan
- Antique including Caluya Islands
Residents in the areas under Wind Signal No. 1 may experience strong winds between 39 to 61 kph within the next 36 hours.
Aside from the wind threat, Wilma will also bring heavy rains throughout its passage—with heavy to intense rains expected over Sorsogon, Masbate, and Romblon until Sunday afternoon (Dec. 7).
Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, and Antique will likewise experience moderate to heavy rains during the same period.
On the other hand, the shear line—or the boundary created from the convergence of warm winds from the easterlies and cold winds from amihan—will bring up to intense rains over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Albay until Sunday.
Moderate to heavy rains are likely over Quezon, Marinduque, and Oriental Mindoro during the same period.
Flooding and landslides may occur during prolonged heavy rains, PAGASA said.
Meanwhile, sea travel remains risky for small seacrafts over the northern seaboard of Quezon including the northern and eastern coasts of Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the northern coast of Camarines Sur, the northern and eastern coasts of Catanduanes, the eastern coast of Albay, the northern and eastern seaboards of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, as well as the eastern seaboards of Isabela and Aurora due to rough to very rough sea conditions.
-jpv
