Bagyong Usman continues to move towards Eastern Visayas while maintaining its strength.
It is now moving west northwest at 10 kilometers per hour (km/h) but it still has maximum winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 65 km/h.
The weather bureau said Tropical Depression Usman is likely to strengthen into a tropical storm before landfall over Eastern Samar tomorrow evening (28 December).
In a bulletin issued 11 pm on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Usman was estimated based on all available data at 330 km East of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
Signal No. 1 is raised in:
- Southern Quezon
- Marinduque
- Romblon
- Catanduanes
- Camarines Sur
- Albay
- Sorsogon
- Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
- Southern Oriental Mindoro
- Cuyo Island
- Eastern Samar
- Northern Samar
- Samar
- Biliran
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Northern Cebu including Camotes Islands
- Aklan
- Capiz
- Iloilo
- Guimaras
- Antique
- Northern Negros Occidental
- Dinagat Island.
Moderate to heavy rains, which may trigger flooding and landslides, will continue over Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and Dinagat Islands tonight. Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains will affect Visayas, Bicol Region, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, and Quezon tomorrow (28 December). Residents of these areas, especially those living near river channels and in low-lying and mountainous areas, are advised to take appropriate measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates.
Usman could make landfall in Eastern Samar on Friday, December 28.
Forecast track of Tropical Depression Usman as of December 27, 2018, 11 pm. Image from PAGASA
It may then cross the northern parts of Leyte, Cebu, and Panay Island, then the Sulu Sea, Palawan, and West Philippine Sea, before leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday, December 31.
PAGASA also warned that sea travel is risky in areas under Signal No. 1, as well as in the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon, and eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon.
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