Wilma continues to move slowly, 24 areas under Signal No. 1

Tropical Depression Wilma continued to move slowly while on its way to Eastern Visayas, the state weather bureau PAGASA said in its 11 p.m. Friday bulletin.

At 10 p.m., Wilma was located 135 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was raised over 24 areas:

LUZON

• the southern portion of Sorsogon (Matnog, Bulan, Irosin, Santa Magdalena, Bulusan, Barcelona, Magallanes, Juban, Casiguran, Gubat)
• mainland Masbate including Ticao Island
• the eastern portion of Romblon (San Fernando, Cajidiocan, Magdiwang)

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, Ilog, Cauayan, Candoni)
• 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)
• Guimaras
• Iloilo
• Capiz
• Aklan 
• Antique

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)
• Camiguin

Wilma is expected to make its initial landfall over Eastern Visayas on Saturday. It will continue to traverse the Visayas until Sunday.

The tropical cyclone will then emerge over the Sulu Sea and pass over northern Palawan by Monday morning.

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

Meanwhile, the Northeast Monsoon will continue to bring strong to gale-force gusts over most of Luzon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Misamis Occidental during the weekend. — VBL, GMA Integrated News