Tropical Storm ”Ambo” nears Eastern Visayas-Bicol

May 13, 2020

Tropical Storm ''Ambo'' is forecast to intensify as it approaches the Eastern Visayas- Bicol Region , the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration ( Pagasa) said on Wednesday.

 As of 10am, ''Ambo'' was last spotted at 360 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph and gusts of 105 kph. It was moving north-northwest at 15 kph.

On Tuesday night, ''Ambo''became a tropical storm when it was 400 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar with maximum winds of 65 kph and gusts of up to 80 kph. It was moving northward at 20 kph.

Weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) number one is raised in Northern Samar, northern portion of Samar which are Calbayog, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose De Buan, Tarangan, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, San Sebastian, Paranas, and Hinabangan; and northern portion of Eastern Samar which are Jipadpad, Ateche, Masilog, Oras, San Policarpio, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat and San Juan.

“This means that we are expecting strong winds of 30 to 60 km/h within 36 hours,” Aurelio said.

Based on their forecast, Ambo is expected to be at 190 km east northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar by Thursday morning and by Friday morning, it’s center is expected to be in the vicinity of Ocampo, Camarines Sur.

“It is estimated to make landfall over Bicol region by Thursday evening or Friday morning,” he said.

“If you notice, its icon is typhoon as we expect it to intensify into typhoon,” he said.

Pagasa said Ambo will move towards the vicinity of Banaue, Ifugao by Saturday morning and expected to be downgraded to severe tropical storm.

“And by Sunday morning, it is expected to be at Basco, Batanes and  will further weaken back to tropical storm,” he said.

Ambo is expected to be located outside the Philippine Areas of Responsibility by Monday morning.

Residents may expect scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rainshowers during thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas today while moderate to heavy rains over Eastern Visayas, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate by Thursday.

“Flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall,” Aurelio said.

Pagasa said TCWS number one may be raised over Sorsogon in their next bulletin. Ella Dionisio/DMS