TD Usman maintains strength, slow creep towards Eastern Samar

Tropical Depression Usman was still slowly making its way towards the Eastern Visayas and was still expected to make landfall over Eastern Samar on Saturday morning, weather service PAGASA reported in a 2 a.m. bulletin.

At 1 a.m., Usman was 125 kilometers east-southeast of Eastern Samar's Guiuan town, with 55 kilometer per hour winds and gusts of up to 65 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal 1 was still raised over the following areas:

• 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.

Moderate to heavy rain would be experienced over Metro Manila, the Calabarzon Region, the Mimaropa Region, Bicol Region, and Aurora; with light to moderate, with at times heavy rain expected over 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 slow progress, the tropical depression would likely be:

• 100 kms south-southwest of Coron, Palawan by Saturday night,
• 285 kms southeast of Pagasa Island, Palawan by Sunday evening,
• 395 kms south-southwest of Pagasa Island, Palawan, and outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, by Monday evening - New Year's Eve.

— DVM, GMA News