Signal No. 2 remains over Ilocos, nearby provinces as Ambo reaches Ilocos Sur

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 remained hoisted over the Ilocos Region and nearby provinces on Saturday as Tropical Storm Ambo (international name: Vongfong) reached the coastal waters of Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur, PAGASA said in its 8 a.m. severe weather bulletin.

Below are the areas under TCWS No. 2, which will have  61-129 km/h strong to gale-force winds prevailing or expected in 24 hours:

• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• eastern portion of Pangasinan (Lingayen, San Carlos City, Basista, Malasiqui, Alcala, Sto. Tomas, Rosales, Balungao, Umingan, Binmaley, Calasiao, Sta. Barbara, Urdaneta City, Villasis, Sta. Maria, San Quintin, Dagupan City, Mangaldan, Mapandan, Manaoag, Laoac, Binalonan, Asingan, Tayug, Natividad, San Jacinto, Pozzorubio, San Fabian, Sison, San Manuel, San Nicolas)
• Apayao
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province,
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Babuyan Islands
• northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Pamplona, Abulug)
• Nueva Vizcaya
• northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Lupao, San Jose City, Pantabangan)

TCWS No. 1 meanwhile has been raised over the following areas:

• Batanes
• rest of Cagayan
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Aurora
• rest of Nueva Ecija
• Tarlac
• northern portion of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, and Iba)
• rest of Pangasinan

The above-mentioned areas under TCWS No. 1 will have 30-60 km/h winds prevailing or expected in 36 hours, with strong to near gale-force winds as Ambo passes.

The Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley and the northern portions of Aurora and Zambales will have moderate to heavy rains on Saturday. Meanwhile, on Sunday, moderate to heavy rains will pour over Batanes and the Babuyan Islands.

PAGASA said flooding and landslides may occur.

Sea travel over the seaboards of areas under TCWS Nos. 1 and 2 and the east coast of Quezon including Polillo Islands will be risky for all types of seacraft on Saturday.

As of 7 a.m., the eye or center of Ambo was located over the coastal waters of Santa Cruz, Ilocos Sur at coordinates 17.0ºN, 120.3ºE.

Ambo has maintained its strength with maximum sustained winds of up to 75 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 125 km/hr.

The tropical storm is moving north northwest at 20 km/hr.

Ambo is expected to be at 105 km west southwest of Basco, Batanes by Sunday morning, and at 360 km northeast of Basco by Monday morning.

It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Monday afternoon. 

PAGASA advised residents in the affected areas to take the necessary precautions, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and monitor weather updates.

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