‘Usman’ seen to make landfall Saturday morning over E. Visayas

This illustration from the Pagasa website shows the active warnings related to Tropical Depression ‘Usman’ which is expected to make landfall over Eastern Visayas on Saturday morning, Dec. 29, 2018. PAGASA WEBSITE SCREENGRAB

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression “Usman” is yet to make landfall on Saturday morning as continued to follow its westward moving closer to Eastern Visayas, the weather bureau said Saturday.

According to the 5 a.m. weather bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), “Usman” was last spotted at 65 kilometers (km) east-southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

It was moving west at 15 kilometers per hour (kph).

The tropical depression was packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gusts of up to 65 kph.

Pagasa forecasts “Usman” to make landfall over Eastern Samar on Saturday morning.

Moderate to heavy rain will be experienced over Calabarzon, Mimaropa, the Bicol Region and Aurora, while light to moderate with at times heavy rain is expected over Metro Manila and the Visayas.

Pagasa sees “Usman” exiting the Philippine area of responsibility between Sunday evening (Dec. 30) and Monday morning (Dec. 31).

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 remained hoisted over the following areas:

Luzon

* Northern Palawan, including the Calamian and Cuyo Groups of Islands

* Southern Quezon

* Marinduque

* Romblon

* Catanduanes

* Camarines Norte

* Camarines Sur

* Albay

* Sorsogon

* Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands

* Southern Occidental Mindoro

* Southern Oriental Mindoro

Visayas

* Eastern Samar

* Northern Samar

* Samar

* Biliran

* Leyte

* Southern Leyte

* Northern Cebu, including the Camotes Islands

* Aklan

* Capiz

* Iloilo

* Guimaras

* Antique

* Northern Negros Occidental

Mindanao

* Dinagat Islands

These areas may experience winds of 30-60 kph and/or intermittent rain within the next 36 hours. /cbb