PAGASA: 14 areas under Signal No. 1 as Wilma keeps strength 

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was hoisted over 14 areas as Tropical Depression Wilma maintained its strength while moving westward, the state weather bureau PAGASA said. 

According to the 11 p.m. weather bulletin, the following areas are under Signal No. 1: 

Luzon

• The southern portion of mainland Masbate (Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer)

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
• the eastern portion of Negros Occidental (Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava)

Mindanao

• Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands
• Dinagat Islands
• the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen)
• the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, City of Cabadbaran) 

PAGASA said the center of Wilma was monitored 480 kilometers east of Catarmas, Northern Samar or 390 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar. 

It packs maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kilometers per hour. The tropical depression is also moving west southwestward at 15 kilometers per hour, the state weather bureau added. 

PAGASA said that Wilma is forecast to make its initial landfall over Eastern Visayas or Dinagat Islands between Friday evening, December 5 and Saturday morning, December 6. 

“Afterwards, it will continue to traverse Visayas until Sunday (07 December). It will then emerge over Sulu Sea and may pass over northern Palawan between Sunday evening and Monday (08 December) morning,” said PAGASA. 

Furthermore, Wilma is expected to slightly intensify before landfall but is likely to remain a tropical depression throughout the forecast period. 

“Further intensification is possible once it emerges over the West Philippine Sea,” said PAGASA.—LDF, GMA Integrated News