By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
After making landfall over Dolores, Eastern Samar at 10:50 p.m. Saturday, Tropical Depression Wilma continued to decrease in strength as it crossed Samar Island overnight, according to PAGASA’s 11:00 a.m. bulletin.
The state weather bureau said Sunday that as of 8:00 a.m., the storm weakened to a low pressure area (LPA). It was last located in the vicinity of Cataingan, Masbate, and continues to move westward at 15 kph.
Previously issued wind signals in provinces in the Bicol Region and Western Visayas were already lifted by the state weather bureau, yet a gale warning prevails over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, with very rough seas expected in the following areas:
- Up to 5.0 m: The seaboards of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, and Aurora; the northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; and Camarines Norte.
- Up to 4.5 m: The eastern seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands and northern mainland Quezon; the northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; the northern seaboard of Camarines Sur.
The LPA may continue on its current track or change direction and move west-southwestward, traversing the area of Southern Luzon and Visayas until Monday.
While present unfavorable conditions contributed to the weakening of Wilma, PAGASA does not rule out the possibility of its redevelopment into a tropical depression once it reaches the West Philippine Sea.
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