Manila: Tropical Depression (TD) Wilma continues to move slowly as it approaches Eastern and Northern Samar, the weather bureau said Saturday. As of 10 a.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that the center of TD Wilma was located over the waters of Sulat, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph, moving slowly westward.

According to Philippines News Agency, Wilma is forecast to move generally westward for the majority of the forecast period and may make its initial landfall over Eastern Visayas or Northern Samar in the next few hours. Following this, it will continue to traverse the Visayas until Sunday. It is expected to emerge over the Sulu Sea and may pass over northern Palawan by Monday morning.

PAGASA indicated that Wilma is likely to remain a tropical depression throughout its passage over the Visayas and Southern Luzon. However, due to dry intrusion from the northeast monsoon, there is an increasing likelihood of it weakening into a remnant low while traversing the Visayas.

In Luzon, Tropical Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised over areas including Sorsogon, Masbate, and several others, including Ticao and Burias Islands, Romblon, and parts of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro. In the Visayas, Signal No. 1 is also in effect over Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, and parts of Leyte, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique including Caluya Islands.