‘Usman’ may intensify before landfall over eastern Samar Friday

By Lily Ramos /PNA

Tropical depression “Usman” may make landfall on Friday (Dec. 28, 2018), the weather bureau said. (Satellite image courtesy of PAGASA)

MANILA—Tropical depression “Usman” has maintained its course and is heading towards eastern Visayas and may make landfall in Samar tonight, the weather bureau said on Friday.

At 7 a.m., “Usman” was last observed at 250 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar with maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph while moving west northwest at 10 kph.

It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) either Sunday evening or Monday morning.

Tropical cyclone signal warning number 1 is raised in the following areas:

  • Luzon
    • Northern Palawan incl. Calamian group of Islands
    • Camarines Norte
    • Southern Quezon
    • Marinduque
    • Romblon
    • Catanduanes
    • Camarines Sur
    • Albay
    • Sorsogon
    • Masbate
    • including Ticao and Burias Islands
    • Southern Occidental Mindoro
    • Southern Oriental Mindoro
    • and Cuyo
  • Visayas
    • Eastern Samar
    • Northern Samar
    • Samar
    • Biliran
    • Leyte
    • Southern Leyte
    • Northern Cebu including Camotes Islands
    • Aklan
    • Capiz
    • Iloilo
    • Guimaras
    • Antique
    • and Northern Negros Occidental
  • Mindanao
    • Dinagat Island

The northeast monsoon is also affecting northern Luzon.

In its severe weather forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said moderate to heavy rain may trigger flooding and landslides in the Visayas, Bicol region, Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon and Quezon.

Bicol region, eastern and western Visayas, Mimaropa, northern Cebu, southern Quezon, northern Palawan, including Calamian group of Islands, Dinagat and Cuyo Island would be rainy with gusty winds caused by “Usman”.

Metro Manila, Central Luzon, the rest of Visayas, Calabarzon, Caraga would have cloudy skies prevailing with scattered rain showers and thunderstorm due to “Usman.”

The regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera would have cloudy skies with light rain caused by the northeast monsoon.

The rest of Mindanao would have cloudy skies with rain showers due to localized thunderstorm.

Temperature in Metro Manila ranges from 24-31 degrees Celsius; Tuguegarao City 22-30 degrees Celsius, Baguio City 16-22 degrees Celsius; Metro Cebu 24-29 degrees Celsius; and Metro Davao 24-33 degrees Celsius.

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