Pagasa raises Signal No. 1 over two more areas due to TD ‘Usman’

MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau raised Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 over two more areas in the country due to Tropical Depression “Usman.”

In its 8 p.m. severe weather bulletin update on Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) added Southern Quezon and Marinduque in areas under Signal No. 1.

The weather bureau earlier placed 18 areas under storm signal.

Pagasa noted that at 7 p.m., Usman was last spotted 365 kilometers East of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

It is moving westward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph).

It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph, the state weather bureau said.

Pagasa said Usman would cause moderate to heavy rains over Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas and Dinagat Islands on Thursday night, which may trigger flooding and landslides.

Moderate to heavy rains would affect Visayas, Bicol Region, Mindoro Provinces, Pagasa added.

The state weather bureau also reminded fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts not to venture out over the seaboards of areas under Signal No. 1 as well as the seaboards of Northern Luzon, the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of the Surigao provinces due to Usman and the surge brought about by the Northeast Monsoon.

Usman could intensify into a tropical storm ahead of its expected landfall over Eastern Samar Friday afternoon.

The weather bureau expects Usman to exit the Philippine area of responsibility between Sunday evening (Dec. 30) and Monday morning (Dec. 31).