Tropical depression “Usman” is no longer expected to intensify into a tropical storm as it is continues to move erratically over the Philippine Sea before its supposed landfall in Eastern Samar last night or this morning, the State weather bureau said yesterday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration spotted Usman at 285 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar yesterday afternoon.
The tropical depression which has a system size of 300 kilometers in diameter packs maximum sustained winds of up to 55 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 65 kph.
Usman is almost stationary, PAGASA added.
It will cross the northern portion of Leyte, Panay Island, Sulu Sea, northern Palawan, and West Philippine Sea before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility tomorrow night or Monday morning.
Tropical cyclone warning signal No. 1 was hoisted over northern Palawan, including Calamian and Cuyo Group 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 Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, northern Cebu, including Camotes Islands, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Antique, northern Negros Occidental, and Dinagat Islands.
PAGASA said winds of 30 to 60 kph or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours in these areas.
The State weather bureau advised fisherfolk and those with small seacraft not to venture out over the seaboards in areas under signal No.1. (Alexandria San Juan)
