(Eagle News)—Signal No. 1 has been hoisted over several areas, as “Usman” maintained its strength and continued to move west-northwestward on Thursday, Dec. 27.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, those under Signal No. 1 are Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao Island, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Northern Cebu including Camotes Islands, and Dinagat Island.
Moderate to heavy rains may affect Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands, PAGASA said.
PAGASA urged fisherfolk and those with small seacraft not to venture out over the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and areas under a Signal No. 1 due to rough seas.
As of 4 a.m., the center of the tropical depression was located 435 kilometers east of Guiuan, eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kilometers per hour.
“Usman,” which PAGASA said is expected to intensify into a tropical storm prior to its landfall over E.Samar on Friday, Dec. 28, is moving at 20 kilometers per hour.