'Wilma' maintains strength as it moves closer to Eastern Visayas — PAGASA
By Jel Santos
(DOST-PAGASA)
Tropical Depression Wilma held its strength on Thursday night, Dec. 4, as it moved west-southwestward over the Philippine Sea, keeping Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 raised over several provinces in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In its Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No. 3 issued 11 p.m., PAGASA said Wilma has sustained maximum winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph), showing no weakening as it draws closer to the Eastern Visayas coastline.
At 10 p.m., the weather bureau said the system’s center was estimated 480 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar, or 390 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.
PAGASA noted that Wilma is currently moving west-southwest at 15 kph, a track that places Eastern Visayas or Dinagat Islands along its potential landfall corridor between Friday evening, Dec. 5, and early Saturday morning, Dec. 6.
With Wilma maintaining its strength, Signal No. 1 remains raised over wide areas in the Visayas, 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) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Bohol, and the eastern portion of Negros Occidental (Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava).
In Luzon, the warning is hoisted over the southern portion of mainland Masbate (Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer).
Meanwhile, the areas in Mindanao which are 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, Carmen), and the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, City of Cabadbaran).
The state weather bureau said the areas under TCWS No. 1 may experience strong winds, 39 to 61 kph, within 36 hours.
The agency reminded the public to remain alert for rainfall advisories, wind updates, and sea condition warnings as the tropical depression approaches Eastern Visayas.