13 areas under Signal No. 1 as TD Amang accelerates towards Catanduanes

Thirteen areas in Luzon and Visayas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 as Tropical Depression Amang accelerated while moving westward toward the coast of Catanduanes, PAGASA said Tuesday.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas were under Signal No. 1:

• Catanduanes
• Sorsogon
• Albay
• Camarines Sur
• Camarines Norte
• Quezon (Pitogo, San Andres, Buenavista, San Francisco, Calauag, Infanta, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Guinayangan, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Mauban, General Nakar, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, San Narciso, Tagkawayan, Pagbilao, City of Tayabas) including Pollilo Islands
• Marinduque
• Masbate including Ticao Island
• Burias Island
• Eastern Samar
• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran

PAGASA said areas under Signal No. 1 may experience strong winds (strong breeze to near gale strength) that may pose minimal to minor threat to life and property.

It added that Signal No. 1 may be hoisted in other localities in Eastern Visayas and Bicol Region in succeeding bulletins.

PAGASA said as of 10 a.m., the center of Amang was estimated at 270 km east of Virac, Catanduanes (13.6°N, 126.7°E). It was packing maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 70 km/h, and central pressure of 1004 hPa.

Amang, the first cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this year, was moving westward at 30 km/h, with strong winds extending outwards up to 300 km from the center, according to PAGASA.

"A landfall scenario over the Bicol Peninsula area is not being ruled out, especially for the next 36 hours, despite the track forecast showing that the tropical depression will remain offshore over the waters east of Luzon for the next three days," it said.

The state weather bureau said a marine gale warning is in effect over the eastern seaboards of Catanduanes and Eastern Samar, and the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar.

Meanwhile, the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Eastern Visayas that are not under any gale warning will experience moderate to rough seas of 1.2 to 2.8 in the next 24 hours.   —Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA Integrated News