Tropical cyclone wind signal number one is now up in 18 areas while Tropical Depression Wilma is traversing the Philippine Sea, according to the state weather bureau.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Wilma has ‘slightly accelerated.’
The storm’s center was last located 245 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 55 kph.
Pagasa said Wilma is expected to move west-southwestward until December 6, before turning generally westward for the remainder of the forecast period.
‘On the forecast track, Wilma’s center may make its initial landfall or pass close to eastern Visayas or the Dinagat Islands between this evening (December 5) and tomorrow morning (December 6). It will then continue across Visayas until Sunday (December 7), before emerging over the Sulu Sea and possibly passing over northern Palawan by Monday (December 8) morning,’ Pagasa said.
‘Wilma is expected to slightly intensify before landfall but will likely remain a tropical depression throughout the forecast period. Further intensification is possible once it moves over the West Philippine Sea,’ it added.
Due to the tropical depression, Signal No. 1 has been hoisted in the following areas:
The southern portion of mainland Masbate (Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer, Cawayan, Palanas, Dimasalang)
Northern Samar
Eastern Samar
Samar
Biliran
Leyte
Southern Leyte
the 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, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Cordova, Lapu-Lapu City, Toledo City, Pinamungahan, San Fernando, City of Naga, Minglanilla, City of Talisay, Aloguinsan, City of Carcar, Sibonga, Barili, Alcantara, Ronda, Dumanjug, Argao, Moalboal, Badian, Dalaguete, Alcoy), including Bantayan and Camotes Islands
Bohol
the northern and eastern 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)
the northern portion of Negros Oriental (City of Guihulngan, Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, La Libertad)
the eastern portion of Iloilo (San Dionisio, Estancia, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Ajuy, Sara, Balasan, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael)
the eastern portion of Capiz (Pilar, President Roxas)
Surigao del Norte, including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands
Dinagat Islands
the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza)
the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, City of Cabadbaran, Remedios T. Romualdez, Magallanes)
Camiguin
Pagasa said the northeast monsoon, locally known as amihan, will also bring strong to gale-force gusts to areas not under a wind signal, especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to the winds.
December 5: Most of Luzon and Visayas.
December 6: Most of Luzon, Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula
December 7: Most of Luzon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Misamis Occidental.