21 areas under Signal No. 1 as Wilma maintains strength toward Eastern Visayas

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised in 21 areas as Tropical Depression Wilma maintained its strength Friday while moving west southwestward toward Eastern Visayas.

In its 11 a.m. advisory, state weather bureau PAGASA said the following areas are under Signal No. 1

Luzon

• The southern portion of Sorsogon (Matnog, Bulan, Irosin, Santa Magdalena, Bulusan, Barcelona, Magallanes, Juban, Casiguran, Gubat), and 
• mainland Masbate including Ticao Island

Visayas

• Northern Samar, 
• Eastern Samar, 
• Samar, 
• Biliran, 
• Leyte, 
• Southern Leyte, 
• Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, 
• Bohol, 
• the northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, City of Victorias, Manapla, Cadiz City, Bacolod City, City of Talisay, Silay City, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Murcia, Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Valladolid, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Isabela, Binalbagan, City of Himamaylan, City of Kabankalan),  
• Siquijor,  
• the northern and central portions of Negros Oriental (City of Guihulngan, Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Manjuyod, Bais City, Pamplona, City of Tanjay, Amlan, San Jose, Dumaguete City, Valencia, Sibulan, Bacong, Mabinay), 
• the eastern portion of Iloilo (San Dionisio, Estancia, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Ajuy, Sara, Balasan, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, City of Passi, San Enrique, Anilao, Banate, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Mina, Pototan, New Lucena, Santa Barbara, Pavia, Iloilo City, Leganes, Zarraga, Dumangas, Dueñas), 
• the eastern portion of Capiz (Pilar, President Roxas, Panay, Pontevedra, Ma-Ayon, Cuartero, Dumarao, Dao, Panitan, Roxas City), and 
• Guimaras

Mindanao

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

The center of Wilma was located 235 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar moving west southwestward at 15 km/h. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 55 km/h, and central pressure of 1004 hPa.

PAGASA said Wilma will likely remain as a tropical depression throughout the forecast period. Further intensification is possible once it emerges over the West Philippine Sea.

Wilma is forecast to move west southwestward until Saturday, December 6, before turning generally westward for the remaining forecast period.

PAGASA said the center of Wilma may make its initial landfall or pass close over Eastern Visayas or Dinagat Islands between Friday evening and Saturday morning.

It will continue to traverse Visayas until Sunday, December 7. It will then emerge over Sulu Sea and may pass over northern Palawan by Monday morning, December 8. —AOL, GMA Integrated News