Floods, landslides likely as Tropical Depression Wilma approaches land

MANILA, Philippines – Floods and landslides are expected as the approaching Tropical Depression Wilma and the shear line continue to trigger significant rainfall in parts of the country.

As of 7 am on Friday, December 5, Wilma was already 235 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, moving southwest at 15 kilometers per hour (km/h).

The tropical depression maintained its strength, with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Wilma might make its first landfall in Eastern Visayas or Dinagat Islands, or pass close to these areas, between Friday evening and Saturday morning, December 6.

Afterwards, it may cross the Visayas until Sunday, December 7; emerge over the Sulu Sea; and move over the northern portion of Palawan by Monday morning, December 8.

PAGASA added that Wilma could slightly intensify before hitting land, “but will likely remain a tropical depression throughout the forecast period.”

Much of the Visayas, Caraga, and Northern Mindanao are dealing with considerable rain from Wilma.

Friday, December 5

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Guimaras, Iloilo, Capiz, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental

Saturday, December 6

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Antique, Guimaras, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands

Sunday, December 7

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Aklan, Capiz, Antique
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Palawan, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Cebu

Wilma is also bringing strong winds to these areas that are under Signal No. 1 as of 8 am on Friday:

• southern part of mainland Masbate (Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer, Cawayan, Palanas, Dimasalang, Uson)
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands
• Bohol
• 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, Hinigaran, Isabela, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City)
• Siquijor
• northern and central parts of Negros Oriental (Guihulngan City, Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Manjuyod, Bais City, Pamplona, Tanjay City, Amlan, San Jose, Dumaguete City, Valencia, Sibulan, Bacong, Mabinay)
• eastern part of Iloilo (San Dionisio, Estancia, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Ajuy, Sara, Balasan, Lemery, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Passi City, San Enrique, Anilao, Banate, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Mina, Pototan, New Lucena, Santa Barbara, Pavia, Iloilo City, Leganes, Zarraga, Dumangas, Dueñas)
• eastern part of Capiz (Pilar, President Roxas, Panay, Pontevedra, Ma-ayon, Cuartero, Dumarao, Dao, Panitan, Roxas City)
• Guimaras
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island and Bucas Grande Island
• Dinagat Islands
• northern part of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza)
• northern part of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, Cabadbaran City, Remedios T. Romualdez, Magallanes)
• Camiguin

In areas not under a tropical cyclone wind signal, strong to gale-force gusts are still possible due to the northeast monsoon or amihan.

Friday, December 5

• most of Luzon and Visayas

Saturday, December 6

• most of Luzon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula

Sunday, December 7

• most of Luzon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Occidental

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On Friday, conditions in certain seaboards are still dangerous due to Wilma and the northeast monsoon.

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

• Northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; seaboard of Northern Samar – waves up to 5.5 meters high
• Northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur; eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon – waves up to 5 meters high
• Eastern seaboards of Isabela, Aurora, northern mainland Quezon, and Eastern Samar; seaboards of Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur – waves up to 4.5 meters high

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Eastern seaboards of Dinagat Islands and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands – waves up to 4 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of Ilocos Region – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Eastern seaboards of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental; seaboards of Zambales and Kalayaan Islands – 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 Bataan, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, and Palawan; seaboards of Cuyo Islands; western seaboard of Antique; southern seaboards of Davao Oriental and Davao Occidental – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of Palawan, Quezon, Camarines Sur, and Antique; seaboards of Romblon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, and Aklan; northwestern seaboard of Masbate including Burias Islands – 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, moderate to intense rain from the shear line will persist in provinces in the Bicol region on Friday. Several other provinces in Southern Luzon will also be affected during the weekend.

Friday, December 5

• Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate
• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Camarines Sur

Saturday, December 6

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

Sunday, December 7

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

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