MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Samuel is closing in the Leyte Gulf area late Tuesday afternoon, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
As of 4 p.m., “Samuel” was located either at 250 kilometers east of Maasin City, Southern Leyte or at 165 km east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.
Its maximum sustained winds and gusts remain unchanged at 55 kilometers per hour near the center and 65 kph, respectively.
Moving west northwest at 20 kph, the tropical depression is expected to make landfall in the area between the southern portion of Eastern Samar and Dinagat Islands Tuesday night.
PAGASA warned that scattered to widespread moderate to heavy rains with gusty winds will affect residents of Visayas, CARAGA, MIMAROPA, provinces of Misamis Oriental, Camiguin and Masbate, including Ticao Island.
"Samuel" will also bring cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rainshowers and thunderstorms over CALABARZON, rest of Bicol region, rest of northern Mindanao and Zamboanga Peninsula.
Fishermen and those with small seacraft are also advised not to venture out over the areas under Signal No. 1 and the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon.
Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over 28 areas:
- Masbate, including Ticao Island
- Romblon
- Southern Oriental Mindoro
- Southern Occidental Mindoro
- Palawan, including Cuyo Island and Calamian Group of Islands
- Northern Samar
- Eastern Samar
- Samar
- Biliran
- Leyte
- Southern Leyte
- Bohol
- Cebu
- Siquijor
- Negros Oriental
- Negros Occidental
- Guimaras
- Iloilo
- Capiz
- Aklan
- Antique
- Dinagat Islands
- Surigao del Sur
- Surigao del Norte
- Agusan del Norte
- Agusan del Sur
- Misamis Oriental
- Camiguin
Forecast positions
- Wednesday afternoon: 45 km south southeast of Cuyo, Palawan
- Thursday afternoon: 330 km west northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
- Friday afternoon: 765 km west northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
— Gaea Katreena Cabico