PAGASA: 'Ambo' now a storm; 6 areas under Signal 1

Published June 1, 2012 5:41pm

At least six areas were placed under Storm Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Ambo intensified into a storm Friday afternoon, state weather forecasters said.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Ambo may veer away towards the Okinawa area as early as Monday, June 4.

“Ito ay lumalapit sa area ng Bicol Region and we are expecting [na] pagibayuhin [nito] ang southwest monsoon,” PAGASA chief forecaster Robert Sawi said in a media briefing aired on dzBB radio.

He said Ambo (international code name Mawar) may exit Philippine territory as early as Monday.

But he said the problem for the country will be the enhanced southwest monsoon, which will bring rain to parts of the country.

PAGASA defines a tropical depression as a weak low-pressure disturbance with maximum wind speed of up to 63 kph. It defines a tropical storm as a moderate tropical cyclone with maximum wind speed of 64 to 118 kph.

Storm signal

Under Storm Signal No. 1 are Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Polilio Island, Aurora, and Isabela.

PAGASA’s 5 p.m. advisory said that as of 4 p.m., Ambo was estimated at 190 km northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

It said Ambo is forecast to move north northwest at 15 kph and will be 220 km east southeast of Aparri, Cagayan Saturday afternoon.

By Sunday afternoon, it is expected to be 280 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes. By Monday afternoon, it is expected to be 640 km northeast of Basco, Batanes.

“Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under Signal No. 1 are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides,” PAGASA said.

Also, PAGASA estimated the rainfall from Ambo to be from 15 to 25 mm per hour (heavy) within the storm’s 500-km diameter.

It added Ambo is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over the western section of Southern Luzon and Visayas.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said at least 470 passengers are stranded in Albay.

"Huwag natin dagdagan ang pasahero na stranded diyan (Let us not add to the number of stranded passengers)," NDRRMC head Benito Ramos said. — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: stormambo, ambo, weather, pagasa