Tropical Depression Wilma remained almost stationary over the coastal waters of Sulat, Eastern Samar on Saturday afternoon, keeping 19 areas in Luzon and the Visayas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
In its 2 p.m. bulletin, Pagasa said Wilma maintained maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 55 kph as it hovered near Eastern Samar.
Signal No. 1 remains raised over the following Luzon areas: Sorsogon; Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands; Romblon; the southern portions of Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro; and the northernmost towns of Palawan, including Cuyo, Calamian and Cagayancillo Islands.
In the Visayas, the warning was in effect over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan and Antique, as well as large portions of Leyte, Cebu, Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental.
Pagasa said Wilma is expected to make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar or Northern Samar on Saturday. It will continue to move across the Visayas until Sunday before emerging over the Sulu Sea and possibly crossing northern Palawan by Monday morning.
The weather bureau said Wilma is likely to remain a tropical depression throughout its passage, although there is an increasing chance it could weaken into a remnant low as dry winds from the northeast monsoon intrude into its circulation.
