Wilma keeps strength, 19 areas under Signal No. 1

Tropical Depression Wilma has remained almost stationary even as it expected to make landfall on Saturday, PAGASA said in its 5 p.m, bulletin.

At 4 p.m., Wilma was located over the coastal waters of Can-avid, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h. PAGASA said Wilma may make landfall over Eastern Samar or Northern Samar between Saturday afternoon and evening. 

"Afterwards, it will continue to traverse Visayas until tomorrow (December 7). It will then emerge over Sulu Sea and may pass over northern Palawan by Monday (December 8) morning," PAGASA said.

Under Signal No. 1 are the following areas:

LUZON

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

Both Wilma and the shear line will bring heavy rain over parts of Luzon and Visayas from Saturday to Tuesday afternoon.

"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