Parts of Palawan remain under Signal no. 1 as Vicky seen to make landfall Saturday night

The northern and central portions of Palawan remained under Signal Number 1 as Tropical Depression Vicky is forecast to move west-northwestward over Sulu Sea and make landfall in the vicinity of the said areas on Saturday night, PAGASA said.

In its 2 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remained over Araceli, Dumaran, Taytay, El Nido, San Vicente, Roxas, Puerto Princesa City, Aborlan, Narra, Quezon, Sofronio Espanola, including Calamian, Cuyo, Cagayancillo, and Kalayaan Islands.

Vicky is likely to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Sunday afternoon or evening, PAGASA said.

The cyclone is forecast to remain a tropical depression while crossing the Philippine archipelago. However, Vicky is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm once it reaches the West Philippine Sea.

Areas under TCWS No. 1 will have strong breeze to near gale conditions during the passage of Vicky, PAGASA said, as it emphasized that most of Luzon and Visayas that are not under TCWS are likely to experience gusty conditions due to the surge of the Northeast Monsoon.

CALABARZON, Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Isabela, Aurora, Marinduque, and the northern and central portions of Palawan including Calamian, Cuyo, and Cagayancillo Islands will experience moderate to heavy with at times intense rains.

Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Metro Manila, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, and the rest of mainland Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Visayas meanwhile will experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

PAGASA said flooding, including flash floods, and rain-induced landslides may occur during heavy or prolonged periods of rainfall, especially in areas identified to be highly or very highly susceptible to the said hazards and in localities receiving significant antecedent rainfall over the past couple of days or weeks.

As of 1 p.m. on Saturday, the center of Tropical Depression "Vicky" was estimated based on all available data at 185 km east southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

It is moving westward at 20 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h. -MDM, GMA News