Wilma almost stationary over waters of Sulat, Eastern Samar

Tropical Depression Wilma has kept its strength while remaining almost stationary over the waters of Eastern Samar, PAGASA said in its 2 p.m. Saturday bulletin.

At 1 p.m., Wilma was spotted over the coastal waters of Sulat, Eastern Samar, with 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 hoisted over 19 areas:

LUZON

• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
• Romblon
• the southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Bongabong)
• the southern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan)
• the northernmost portion of Palawan (Araceli, Dumaran, El Nido, Taytay) including Cuyo, Calamian, and Cagayancillo Islands

VISAYAS

• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• the northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Mahaplag, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Inopacan, Jaro, Abuyog, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Javier, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Hindang, City of Baybay, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo)
• 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, Mandaue City, Cebu City, City of Talisay, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Pinamungahan, City of Naga, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands
• the northern portion of Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, City of Guihulngan)
• 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, Isabela, Hinigaran)
• Guimaras
• Iloilo
• Capiz
• Aklan
• Antique including Caluya Islands

The tropical cyclone is expected to make landfall over Eastern Samar or Northern Samar on Saturday. After this, Wilma will continue to cross the Visayas, emerge over the Sulu Sea, and pass over northern Palawan by Monday morning. 

"Wilma will likely remain as a tropical depression throughout its passage over Visayas and Palawan. However, due to dry intrusion from the Northeast Monsoon, there is an increasing likelihood of weakening into a remnant low while traversing the area of Visayas," PAGASA said. — VBL, GMA Integrated News