Ambo intensifies into tropical storm; heavy rains seen over Eastern Visayas, Mindanao

Tropical Depression Ambo, with international name Vongfong, has intensified into a tropical storm, PAGASA announced Tuesday night.

In its 11 p.m. Severe Weather Bulletin, the weather agency said it is expected to bring scattered light to moderate, with at times, heavy rainshowers during thunderstorms over Mindanao and Eastern Visayas on Tuesday night to Wednesday.

Meanwhile, it will bring moderate to heavy rains over Eastern Visayas, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate between Wednesday night and Thursday evening.

PAGASA advised affected residents to take precautionary measures and coordinate with local authorities as flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall.

The center of Ambo was last estimated at 455 kilometers east northeast of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte or 400 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 may be raised over Eastern Samar and the eastern portion of Northern Samar in the next six to 12 hours.

Tropical storm Ambo may further intensify as it approaches the Eastern Visayas-Bicol Region area, according to PAGASA.

Sea travel will be risky over the eastern seaboard of the Bicol Region and the northern and eastern seabords of Eastern Visayas in the next 24 hours due to moderate to rough seas.

The next severe weather bulletin will be issued at 11 a.m. Wednesday. —LDF, GMA News