By Brian Campued
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) advised residents in parts of Visayas and Mindanao to brace for heavy rains in the coming days as the low pressure area (LPA) being monitored inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) developed into a tropical depression Thursday morning.
In its bulletin issued at 11:00 a.m., PAGASA said Tropical Depression Wilma was located 625 km east of Catarman, Eastern Samar. It packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gustiness of up to 55 kph while moving west-southwestward at 20 kph.
Even though the tropical cyclone is still offshore, PAGASA Asst. Weather Services chief Chris Perez said Wilma is expected to affect southern Luzon, Visayas, and northern Mindanao as it approaches the landmass.
In anticipation of strong winds brought by Wilma within the next 36 hours, which may cause minimal to minor impacts, the state weather bureau placed several provinces under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1:
- Northern Samar
- Eastern Samar
- Samar
- Biliran
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands
- Dinagat Islands
“The first time na itinaas natin ‘yung Wind Signal No. 1 ngayong umaga, hindi po ibig sabihin na agad-agad ay dapat ramdam na natin agad ‘yung epekto,” Perez clarified.
“Yung palugit na oras, yung around 36 hours bago pa natin maramdaman yung actual [na] epekto ng bagyo… ito po ay sapat na oras para maghanda po tayo,” he added.
Based on the track forecast, Wilma may slightly intensify before making landfall over Dinagat Islands or Eastern Caraga Friday evening (Dec. 5) or Saturday morning (Dec. 6).
Aside from wind threat, Wilma is expected to bring heavy to intense rains over Northern Samar and Eastern Samar and moderate to heavy rains over Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin from Thursday to Friday noon.
Between Friday to Saturday noon, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Cebu, and Negros Occidental will experience up to intense rains while up to heavy rains are forecast in Southern Leyte, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Antique, Guimaras, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, and Camiguin.
“So yung mga pag-ulan pong dala ng Bagyong Wilma ay posibleng magdulot ng mga pagbaha sa mga mababang lugar [o] sa mga komunidad na malapit sa waterways o ilog,” Perez said, urging the public to be vigilant about the situation in their areas.
Meanwhile, the shear line—or the boundary caused by the convergence of cold winds from the northeast monsoon (amihan) and warm winds from the easterlies—will also bring heavy rains over Quezon, MIMAROPA, and Bicol in the next three days or until Sunday noon (Dec. 7).
A gale warning is also in effect over the seaboards of northern Luzon, the eastern seaboards of southern Luzon and Visayas, as well as the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon due to amihan.
“Hangga’t maaari huwag na po munang pumalaot ang anuman pong sasakyang pandagat dyan para maiwasan ang peligro ng matataas na pag-alon,” Perez advised.
-jpv
