The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on late Thursday afternoon reported that Tropical Depression “Wilma” is decelerating while moving over the Philippine Sea east of Northern Samar.
Its center was last estimated 575 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar, moving west-southwestward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph).
According to PAGASA’s 5 p.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, the tropical depression had maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gustiness of up to 55 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 had since been raised over parts of Luzon, namely the southern portion of mainland Masbate (Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, and Placer).
Signal No. 1 is also up in the following Visayas areas: Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, the northern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Sogod, Catmon, Asturias, Carmen, Danao City, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Cordova, Lapu-Lapu City) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, and the eastern and central portions of Bohol (Inabanga, Sagbayan, Carmen, Garcia Hernandez, Jagna, Sierra Bullones, Pilar, Duero, Guindulman, Anda, Candijay, Mabini, Alicia, Ubay, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, San Miguel, Dagohoy, Danao, Buenavista, Getafe, Trinidad, Talibon, and Bien Unido).
In Mindanao, Signal No. 1 is hoisted over Surigao del Norte, including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Dinagat Islands, the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen), and the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, and City of Cabadbaran).
Wilma is forecast to move west-southwestward until Saturday before turning generally westward for the remaining forecast period.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Signal No. 1 up in more areas as ‘Wilma’ slows”
