10 areas under Signal No. 1 as Usman maintains strength

Tropical Depression Usman maintains its strength as it continues to move west-northwestward on Thursday, according to Severe Weather Bulletin No. 5 issued by PAGASA early Thursday morning.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 is raised over Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao Island, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Northern Cebu including Camotes Islands, and Dinagat Island.

As of 4 a.m., the center of Tropical Depression Usman was estimated at 435 kilometers east of Guiuan, eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph.

Usman is moving in the west-northwest direction at 20 kilometers per hour.

PAGASA said Usman may intensify into a Tropical Storm prior to landfall over Eastern Samar on Friday, December 28.

Moderate to heavy rains, which may trigger flooding and landslides, may affect Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.

The state weather bureau advised residents of these areas, especially those living near river channels and in low-lying and mountainous areas, to take precautionary measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates.

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Fisherfolks and those with small seacraft, meanwhile, are advised not to venture out over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and areas under TCWS due to rough seas.

Usman is expected to be outside the the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday, December 31.

The weather condition in Eastern Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao Island, and Dinagat Island will have rains with gusty winds due to Usman.

The weather bureau warns that isolated flooding and landslides may occur in these areas due to widespread heavy rains.

Central Visayas, the rest of the Bicol region, and Caraga will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorm also due to the tropical depression.

Batanes and the Babuyan group of islands will have cloudy skies with light rains brought about by the northeast monsoon.

The Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Cagayan Valley Region, due to the northeast monsoon, will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers due to localized thunderstorms. PAGASA warned that flash floods and landslides are possible in these areas during severe thunderstorms.

The wind speed in northern Luzon, eastern section of southern Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao will be strong moving northeast to northwest while coastal waters will be rough.

The rest of the country wind speed is moderate to strong moving east to northeast while coastal waters are expected to be moderate to rough. — BAP, GMA News