Tropical Depression Wilma makes landfall twice in Eastern Samar

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Wilma made landfall twice in the province of Eastern Samar late Saturday evening, December 6.

Its first landfall was in Hilabaan Island, part of the municipality of Dolores, at 10:50 pm on Saturday, while its second landfall was in the municipality of Oras at 11:10 pm.

As of 1 am on Sunday, December 7, Wilma was still in the vicinity of Oras, slowly moving west northwest. The tropical depression still has 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 a briefing past 2 am that Wilma is projected to continue crossing the Visayas on Sunday. Afterwards, it will emerge over the Sulu Sea and move over the northern portion of Palawan by Monday morning, December 8.

But there is also a possibility that Wilma may soon weaken into a low pressure area due to the surge of the northeast monsoon or amihan, which is bringing cool and dry air. Tropical cyclones are fueled by warm air.

Wilma is no longer bringing intense rain, but at least nine provinces in the Visayas and Southern Luzon may still see moderate to heavy rain from the tropical depression within 24 hours. Floods and landslides remain possible.

Saturday evening, December 6, to Sunday evening, December 7

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

Sunday evening, December 7, to Monday evening, December 8

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Palawan

Due to strong winds from Wilma, Signal No. 1 remains raised in these areas as of 2 am on Sunday:

• Sorsogon
• Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
• Romblon
• southern part of Oriental Mindoro (Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Bongabong, Bansud)
• southern part of Occidental Mindoro (Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan, Sablayan)
• northernmost part of Palawan (Araceli, Dumaran, El Nido, Taytay, Roxas, San Vicente) 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.

Sunday, December 7

• most of Luzon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula

Monday, December 8

• most of Luzon

Tuesday, December 9

• most of Luzon

Wilma and the northeast monsoon are still affecting seaboards in the country, too.

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

• Seaboards of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, and Aurora; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur – waves up to 5 meters high
• Eastern seaboards of Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and northern mainland Quezon; northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes – 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
• Eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, and Eastern Samar; seaboards of Northern Samar and Kalayaan Islands – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Seaboards of Ilocos Sur and La Union; eastern seaboards of Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Surigao del Sur, and 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 Pangasinan and Palawan; seaboards of Cuyo Islands; western seaboards of Antique and Negros Occidental; southern seaboards of Oriental Mindoro and Negros Oriental; seaboards of Occidental Mindoro, Romblon, and Aklan – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of Palawan, Quezon, and Camarines Sur; seaboards of Zambales, Bataan, Batangas, and Marinduque; northwestern seaboard of Masbate including Burias Islands; remaining seaboards of Oriental Mindoro and Davao Oriental; southern seaboard of Davao Occidental; 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 will persist in several provinces in Southern Luzon within 24 hours. Beyond that period, parts of Northern Luzon may also be affected.

Saturday evening, December 6, to Sunday evening, December 7

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

Sunday evening, December 7, to Monday evening, December 8

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque

Monday evening, December 8, to Tuesday evening, 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