At least 25 areas were placed under tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 as of Friday morning due to Tropical Depression "Vicky" as it moves closer toward the landmass.
In its latest weather update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Vicky was already at 140 kilometers east of Davao City as of 10 a.m., Friday, hours after it developed from a low pressure area.
PAGASA said Vicky has maintained its strength with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 55 kph.
The tropical depression slightly slowed down and now moving west-northwest at 10 kph toward the areas of Davao Oriental and Surigao Del Sur.
PAGASA weather specialist Raymond Ordinario said Vicky is forecasted to remain a tropical depression while crossing the country's landmass until its expected exit out of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Sunday evening.
Storm warning signal
Meanwhile, the state weather bureau raised tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 over the following areas across the country as of Friday morning:
Luzon
• Northern and central parts of Palawan (Puerto Princesa City, Roxas, San Vicente, Dumaran, Araceli, Taytay, El Nido) including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands
Visayas
• Southern Leyte
• Bohol
• Siquijor
• Negros Oriental
• Negros Occidental
• Guimaras
• Southern part of Leyte (Baybay City, Javier, Abuyog, Mahaplag, Inopacan, Hindang, Hilongos, Bato, Matalom, Palompon, Merida, Isabel)
• Central and southern portions of Cebu (Borbon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Asturias, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordoba, Balamban, Cebu City, Talisay City, Toledo City, Minglanilla, Naga City, Pinamungahan, San Fernando, Aloguinsan, Carcar, Barili, Sibonga, Dumanjug, Ronda, Alcantara, Moalboal, Argao, Dalaguete, Badian, Alegria, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Malabuyoc, Ginatilan, Samboan, Santander) including Camotes Islands
• Central and southern portions of Iloilo (Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, San Enrique, San Rafael, Passi City, Bingawan, Calinog, Lambunao, Janiuay, Banate, Anilao, Dingle, Duenas, Badiangan, Barotac Nuevo, Zarraga, Pototan, Dumangas, Mina, New Lucena, Santa Barbara, Leganes, Iloilo City, Pavia, Cabatuan, Maasin, Alimodian, San Miguel, Leon, Oton, Tigbauan, Tubungan, Guimbal, Igbaras, Miagao, San Joaquin)
• Southern portion of Antique (Valderrama, San Remigio, Sibalom, Hamtic, Tobias Fornier, Anini-Y, Bugasong, Laua-An, Patnongon, San Jose, Belison)
Mindanao
• Dinagat Islands
• Surigao del Norte
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Agusan del Sur
• Davao Oriental
• Davao del Norte
• Davao de Oro
• Davao City
• Camiguin
• Bukidnon
• Misamis Oriental
• Misamis Occidental
• Lanao del Norte
• Lanao del Sur
• Maguindanao
• Cotabato City
• North Cotabato
• Zamboanga del Sur
• Zamboanga Sibugay
• Northern portion of Davao del Sur (Santa Cruz, Digos City, Bansalan, Magsaysay, Matanao, Hagonoy)
• Northern portion of Zamboanga del Norte (Baliguian, Gutalac, Kalawit, Labason, Tampilisan, Liloy, Salug, Bacungan, Godod, Sindangan, Siayan, Jose Dalman, Manukan, Sergio Osmena Sr., Pres. Manuel A. Roxas, Katipunan, Dipolog City, Polanco, Pinan, Mutia, La Libertad, Dapitan City, Sibutad, Rizal)
Areas placed under signal number 1 will experience "winds of 30 to 60 kph or intermittent rains within 36 hours" and will have strong breeze to near gale conditions during the passage of the tropical cyclone, PAGASA said.
Heavy rainfall
Due to the combined effects of Vicky and the tail-end of a frontal system, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced over Caraga, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Southern Leyte, Leyte, and Bohol.
While light to moderate with at times heavy rains will be experienced over the Bicol Region, the southern part of Quezon, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, the rest of Visayas, Davao Region, and Northern Mindanao.
PAGASA warned on possible flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides during heavy or prolonged periods of rainfall especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards and in localities that received significant antecedent rainfall over the past couple of days or weeks.
Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels, PAGASA added.
Hazards due to Vicky
With the surge of the prevailing northeast monsoon or "amihan" and the approaching tropical depression, PAGASA said rough to very rough seas will be experienced over the seaboard of Luzon and the Visayas.
With this, a gale warning was raised over the coasts of Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Camarines Provinces, Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Catanduanes, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, northern coast of Ilocos Norte, eastern coast of Quezon including Polillo Islands, eastern coast of Albay, eastern coast of Sorsogon, northern and eastern coasts of Northern Samar, eastern coast of Eastern Samar, eastern coast of Leyte, and western coast of Ilocos Norte.
Sea travel remains risky, especially for small sea crafts, over seaboards where a gale warning was raised due to rough to very rough sea conditions and wave height of up to 4.5 meters, PAGASA warned.
Vicky is already the country's 22nd tropical cyclone for this year and the first for December.
Historical records showed that the Philippines gets an average of 20 tropical cyclones every year, but more rains are expected in the coming months according to PAGASA due to the onset of La Niña.