TD Wilma decelerates; more areas under Signal No. 1

By Ma. Cristina Arayata, Philippine News Agency

(DOST-PAGASA/facebook photo)

MANILA – Tropical Depression (TD) Wilma decelerated, moving west-southwestward at 10 kph, the weather bureau said Thursday.

Wilma was last located 575 km. east of Catarman, Northern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center, and gustiness of up to 55 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 p.m. bulletin.

More areas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal no. 1: the southern portion of mainland Masbate (Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, and Placer), Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Sogod, Catmon, Asturias, Carmen, Danao City, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Cordova, and Lapu-Lapu City), including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, and the eastern and central portions of Bohol (Inabanga, Sagbayan, Carmen, Garcia Hernandez, Jagna, Sierra Bullones, Pilar, Duero, Guindulman, Anda, Candijay, Mabini, Alicia, Ubay, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, San Miguel, Dagohoy, Danao, Buenavista, Getafe, Trinidad, Talibon, and Bien Unido).

Also under Signal No. 1 are Surigao del Norte, including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Dinagat Islands, the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, and Carmen), and the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, and City of Cabadbaran).

PAGASA said the northeast monsoon will also cause strong to gale-force gusts across the Ilocos and Cordillera regions, Cagayan Valley, Aurora, Bataan, Calabarzon, the Mindoro provinces, Romblon, Marinduque, Bicol Region, and the Visayas.

Gale warning is in effect over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Luzon and the Visayas.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said Wilma could possibly make landfall over Eastern Visayas or the Dinagat Islands between Friday night and Saturday and could possibly intensify slightly before landfall, but will remain a TD.

PAGASA also forecast Wilma to bring heavy rains across Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, and Camiguin until Friday afternoon.