Usman may intensify into Tropical Storm before landfall over eastern Samar

Tropical Depression Usman may intensify into a Tropical Storm prior to landfall over eastern Samar on Friday night, PAGASA reported in its latest Severe Weather bulletin.

Usman has maintained its course as it heads toward eastern Visayas.

As of 4 a.m., the center of Tropical Depression Usman was estimated at 285 kilometers east of Guiuan, eastern Samar, moving in the west-northwest direction at 10 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal no. 1

Luzon

• Northern Palawan including Calamian group of Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Southern Quezon
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Catanduanes
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
• Southern Occidental Mindoro
• Southern Oriental Mindoro
• and Cuyo

Visayas

• Eastern Samar
• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Northern Cebu including Camotes Islands
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Iloilo
• Guimaras
• Antique
• and Northern Negros Occidental

Mindanao

• Dinagat Island

Moderate to heavy rains which may trigger flooding and landslides is expected over Visayas, Bicol Region, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, and Quezon.

Residents of these areas, especially those living near river channels and in low-lying and mountainous areas, are advised to take appropriate measures.

The residents are also advised to coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates.

The northeast monsoon will also be affecting northern Luzon.

Bicol Region, Eastern and Western Visayas, MIMAROPA. Northern Cebu, Southern Quezon, Northern Palawan including Calamian group of islands, Dinagat and Cuyo Island will experience rains and gusty winds caused by Usman.

The weather bureau said isolated floodings or landslides are possible due to scattered to widespread heavy rains.

Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Rest of Visayas, Rest of CALABARZON, Rest of Caraga will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms brought about by Tropical Depression Usman.

The Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region will have cloudy skies with light rains due to the northeast monsoon.

The rest of Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers due to localized thunderstorms. Flash floods and landslides are possible during severe thunderstorms, PAGASA reported.

Northern Luzon, eastern section of Central and Southern Luzon will have strong winds from the northeast while coastal waters will be rough.

For the rest of the country, wind speed is from moderate to strong from northeast to northwest while coastal waters will be moderate to rough.

Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of areas under TCWS #1, the seaboards of Northern Luzon, the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Surigao Provinces due to the approaching Tropical Depression and the surge of the Northeast Monsoon.

Usman may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Sunday evening, December 30, and Monday morning, December 31. — BAP, GMA News