Tropical Depression Wilma set to make landfall in Eastern Samar or Northern Samar

MANILA, Philippines – The slow-moving Tropical Depression Wilma is set to make its first landfall either in Eastern Samar or Northern Samar on Saturday, December 6.

Wilma was last spotted over the coastal waters of Sulat, Eastern Samar, as of 10 am on Saturday. It continues to slowly move west toward land.

The tropical depression has been maintaining its strength, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 11 am bulletin on Saturday that Wilma could remain a tropical depression while crossing landmass.

It is expected to traverse the Visayas until Sunday, December 7, then the northern portion of Palawan by Monday morning, December 8.

But there is now an “increasing likelihood” of Wilma weakening into a remnant low over the Visayas due to cool and dry air from the northeast monsoon or amihan. Tropical cyclones are fueled by warm air.

Fewer provinces are included in PAGASA’s latest rainfall outlook for Wilma, released at 11 am on Saturday. But moderate to intense rain may persist, and floods remain possible.

Saturday noon, December 6, to Sunday noon, December 7

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Northern Samar
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Antique

Sunday noon, December 7, to Monday noon, December 8

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Palawan

Also as of 11 am on Saturday, PAGASA already lifted Signal No. 1 for all areas in Mindanao and portions of the Visayas. The following areas in Luzon and the Visayas are still under Signal No. 1, however, as Wilma brings strong winds:

• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
• Romblon
• southern part of Oriental Mindoro (Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Bongabong)
• southern part of Occidental Mindoro (Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan)
• northernmost part of Palawan (Araceli, Dumaran, El Nido, Taytay) including Cuyo, Calamian, and Cagayancillo Islands
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• northern and central parts of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Mahaplag, Matag-ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Inopacan, Jaro, Abuyog, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, MacArthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Javier, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Hindang, Baybay City, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo)
• northern and central parts of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, Bogo City, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Sogod, Catmon, Asturias, Carmen, Danao City, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Cebu City, Talisay City, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Pinamungahan, Naga City, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands
• northern part of Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, Guihulngan City)
• northern and central parts of Negros Occidental (Sagay City, Escalante City, Toboso, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Bacolod City, Talisay City, Silay City, Don Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Murcia, Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Valladolid, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Isabela, Hinigaran)
• Guimaras
• Iloilo
• Capiz
• Aklan
• Antique including Caluya Islands

In areas not under a tropical cyclone wind signal, strong to gale-force gusts are still possible due to the northeast monsoon.

Saturday, December 6

• most of Luzon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula

Sunday, December 7

• most of Luzon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula

Monday, December 8

• most of Luzon

Conditions in seaboards affected by Wilma and the northeast monsoon remain dangerous as well.

Up to very rough seas (travel is risky for all vessels)

• Northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon; northern seaboard of Northern Samar – waves up to 5.5 meters high
• Seaboards of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, and Aurora; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur; remaining seaboard of Northern Samar – waves up to 5 meters high
• Eastern seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and Eastern Samar – waves up to 4.5 meters high

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Remaining seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands; seaboard of Ilocos Norte – waves up to 4 meters high
• Seaboards of Surigao del Sur and Kalayaan Islands – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of Ilocos Region; eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate to rough seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Western seaboards of Zambales, Bataan, Batangas, and Palawan; seaboards of Cuyo Islands; western seaboards of Antique and Negros Occidental; southern seaboards of Oriental Mindoro, Negros Oriental, and Davao Occidental; seaboards of Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, and Aklan – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of Palawan, Quezon, and Camarines Sur; seaboard of Marinduque; northwestern seaboard of Masbate including Burias Islands; remaining seaboard of Oriental Mindoro; northern seaboard of Zamboanga del Norte – waves up to 2 meters high

Wilma is the Philippines’ 23rd tropical cyclone for 2025, and the first for December. The weather bureau expects one or two tropical cyclones to form within or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility during the month.

Shear line

Meanwhile, significant rain from the shear line may continue in the next three days, still in Southern Luzon before later reaching Northern Luzon. Affected areas must stay on alert for floods and landslides.

Saturday noon, December 6, to Sunday noon, December 7

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro

Sunday noon, December 7, to Monday noon, December 8

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte

Monday noon, December 8, to Tuesday noon, December 9

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Cagayan, Isabela
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Quirino, Aurora

The shear line refers to the point where cold air from the northeast monsoon converges with the easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean. – Rappler.com