TD Usman accelerates; Eastern Samar landfall imminent

Tropical Depression Usman was about to make landfall over Eastern Samar as it picked up some speed and started moving westwards at 15 kilometers per hour, PAGASA reported in a Saturday-5 a.m. bulletin.

At 4 a.m., Usman was 65 kilometers east-southeast of Eastern Samar's Guiuan town, still with 55 kph winds and gusts of up to 65 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal 1 remained raised over:

• northern Palawan, including the Calamian and Cuyo Islands;
• southern Quezon;
• Marinduque;
• Romblon;
• Catanduanes;
• Camarines Norte;
• Camarines Sur;
• Albay;
• Sorsogon;
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands;
• southern Occidental Mindoro;
• southern Oriental Mindoro; 
• Eastern Samar;
• Northern Samar;
• Samar;
• Biliran;
• Leyte;
• Southern Leyte;
• northern Cebu, including the Camotes Islands;
• Aklan;
• Capiz;
• Iloilo;
• Guimaras;
• Antique,
• northern Negros Occidental; and 
• the Dinagat Islands.

Usman would bring moderate to heavy rain over the Calabarzon Region, the Mimaropa Region, Bicol Region, and Aurora; with light to moderate, with at times heavy rain expected over Metro Manila and the entire Visayas.

PAGASA warned that flooding and landslides were a danger in all these areas. Sea conditions over areas under Signal 1, the seaboards of northern Luzon, the eastern seaboards of Central and southern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of the Surigao Provinces would also be dangerous for small seacraft and fisherfolk.

Given Usman's faster westward progress, the tropical depression would likely be in the vicinity of Taytay, Palawan by Sunday morning, after which it would exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning. — DVM, GMA News