MANILA, Philippines – 'Ambo', the country's first tropical cyclone this year, has intensified into severe tropical storm while moving west-northwestward, state weather bureau PAGASA announced in its 5:00 pm bulletin on Wednesday, May 13.
'Bagyong Ambo' with international name Vongfong is forecast to further intensify as it approaches the Eastern Visayas-Bicol Region area.
At 4:00 pm today, the center of Severe Tropical Storm 'Ambo' was estimated based on all available data at 315 km East of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.
'Ambo' has maximum sustained winds of up to 95 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 115 km/h. It is moving West Northwest at 10 km/h.
Forecast Positions
Tropical cycone warning signal (TCWS) No. 1 (30-60 km/h winds prevailing or expected in 36 hours) is up over seven areas:
"Signal No. 1 may be raised over southern portion of Camarines Sur and the rest of Albay in the next bulletin," PAGASA said.
Tonight, scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rainshowers during thunderstorms is expected over Eastern Visayas.
On Thursday, moderate to heavy rains over Eastern Visayas, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate will prevail.
Residents in these areas are advised to take precautionary measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates, especially the local rainfall or thunderstorm advisories and heavy rainfall warnings from PAGASA Regional Services Divisions (PRSD).
Flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall.
Meanwhile, strong to gale force winds may begin to affect Northern Samar and northern portion of Eastern Samar and Samar tomorrow afternoon; Sorsogon, Ticao Island, Catanduanes, and southern portion of Albay on Friday morning.
Rough seas will be experienced over the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region and the northern and eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas today. Sea travel is risky over these areas.
— The Summit Express
'Bagyong Ambo' with international name Vongfong is forecast to further intensify as it approaches the Eastern Visayas-Bicol Region area.
At 4:00 pm today, the center of Severe Tropical Storm 'Ambo' was estimated based on all available data at 315 km East of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.
'Ambo' has maximum sustained winds of up to 95 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 115 km/h. It is moving West Northwest at 10 km/h.
Forecast Positions
- 24 Hour (Tomorrow afternoon): 160 km East of Catarman, Northern Samar
- 48 Hour (Friday afternoon):20 km North Northwest of Daet, Camarines Norte
- 72 Hour (Saturday afternoon): In the vicinity of Conner, Apayao
- 96 Hour (Sunday afternoon):265 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes
- 120 Hour (Monday afternoon):1,280 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes (OUTSIDE PAR)
Tropical cycone warning signal (TCWS) No. 1 (30-60 km/h winds prevailing or expected in 36 hours) is up over seven areas:
- Sorsogon
- Ticao Island
- Catanduanes
- southern portion of Albay (Oas, Tabaco, Ligao City, Pio Duran, Guinobatan, Malilipot, Jovellar, Camalig, Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Rapu-rapu, Daraga, Legazpi, Manito)
- Northern Samar
- northern portion of Samar (Calbayog, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose De Buan, Tarangnan, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, San Sebastian, Paranas, Hinabangan)
- northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog, Oras, San Policarpio, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan City)
"Signal No. 1 may be raised over southern portion of Camarines Sur and the rest of Albay in the next bulletin," PAGASA said.
Tonight, scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rainshowers during thunderstorms is expected over Eastern Visayas.
On Thursday, moderate to heavy rains over Eastern Visayas, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate will prevail.
Residents in these areas are advised to take precautionary measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates, especially the local rainfall or thunderstorm advisories and heavy rainfall warnings from PAGASA Regional Services Divisions (PRSD).
Flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall.
Meanwhile, strong to gale force winds may begin to affect Northern Samar and northern portion of Eastern Samar and Samar tomorrow afternoon; Sorsogon, Ticao Island, Catanduanes, and southern portion of Albay on Friday morning.
Rough seas will be experienced over the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region and the northern and eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas today. Sea travel is risky over these areas.
— The Summit Express
