Wilma approaches northern portion of Eastern Samar

Tropical Depression Wilma is moving toward the northern part of Eastern Samar and is predicted to make landfall on Saturday night, according to PAGASA's 8 p.m. bulletin.

Moving west northwestward at 10 km/h, Wilma was packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h with gustiness of up to 55 km/h as of 7 p.m. It was last spotted over the coastal waters of Dolores, Eastern Samar.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was raised over 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

"On the forecast track, the center of Wilma may make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar or Northern Samar tonight. 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.

Further, PAGASA stated that due to the Northeast Monsoon, there is an increasing possibility that Wilma will weaken into a remnant low when it passes through the Visayas. — VBL, GMA Integrated News