Signal No. 1 up in 3 Eastern Visayas areas as Ambo moves toward Samar Island

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was raised over Northern Samar as well as the northern portion of Samar and Eastern Samar as Tropical Storm Ambo moved toward the island, state weather bureau PAGASA said on Wednesday.

At 10 a.m., Ambo was located at 360 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 105 kph, moving northwest slowly.

In an 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas are under Signal No. 1 due to the tropical storm:

• Northern Samar

• Northern portion of Samar:

1. Calbayog
2. Sta. Margarita
3. Gandara
4. Matuguinao
5. Pagsanghan
6. San Jorge
7. San Jose De Buan
8. Tarangnan
9. Catbalogan City
10. Jiabong
11. Motiong
12. San Sebastian
13. Paranas
14. Hinabangan

• Northern portion of Eastern Samar:

1. Jipapad
2. Arteche
3. Maslog
4. Oras
5. San Policarpio
6. Dolores
7. Can-avid
8. Taft
9. Sulat
10. San Julian

May intensify into typhoon by Friday

PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said Ambo is expected to cross the vicinity of Ocampo, Camarines Sur on Friday.

“Pagdating ng Friday morning, itong sentro ng bagyong Ambo nasa vicinity na po ng Ocampo, Camarines Sur,” Aurelio said during a public briefing.

“Inaasahan po natin na lalakas ang bagyo at posible pong maging typhoon ang bagyong Ambo,” he added.

Sea travel is risky over the eastern seaboard of the Bicol Region and the northern and eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas due to rough seas, PAGASA warned.

It added that residents in affected areas are advised to take precautionary measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring local rainfall warnings.

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

PAGASA said  Signal No.1 may also be raised over Sorsogon in the next bulletin.

On Thursday, PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains are expected over Eastern Visayas, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate.

"Bukas ng umaga, lumalapit po sa bandang Bicol Region at Eastern Visayas,” PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio during a public briefing.

On Thursday afternoon, PAGASA warned that strong to near-gale force winds associated with Ambo will start to affect the areas under Signal No. 1.

According to Aurelio, Ambo may intensify into a typhoon and expected to cross the vicinity of Ocampo, Camarines Sur by Friday.

“Sabado ng umaga, napakabilis po ng pagkilos niya at nasa vicinity na po ng Banaue, Ifugao ang sentro ng bagyo,” Aurelio said.

On Sunday, Ambo is projected to approach Batanes, he added. — KG/RSJ, GMA News