Signal No. 3 raised over Sorsogon, parts of Albay; Signal No. 1 in NCR as ‘Ambo’ intensifies

MANILA, Philippines — Sorsogon and the eastern part of Albay have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3, while Signal Number 1 was raised over Metro Manila Thursday morning as Typhoon Ambo continues to rumble and further gain strength, the state weather bureau reported.

As of 7 a.m., the eye or center of the typhoon was located 185 kilometers east southeast of Catarman, Northern Samar or 110 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, according to the 8 a.m. severe weather bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Moving westward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph), the typhoon is packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph, according to Pagasa.

It earlier packed maximum winds of 150 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 185 kilometers per hour.

Pagasa said heavy to intense with at times torrential rains will be observed over Samar Provinces. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced over Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Masbate, and the rest of Eastern Visayas.

TCWS No. 3, which means winds of greater than 121 kilometers per hour (kph) up to 170 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours, is up over the following areas:

– Sorsogon
– eastern section of Albay (Legazpi City, Manito, Daraga, Camalig, Jovellar, Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu)
– Northern Samar
– northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpio, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan City)
– northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan)

TCWS No. 2, which means winds of greater than 61 kph and up to 120 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours, is raised over the following areas:

– southeastern portion of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Buenavista, San Narciso, Mulanay, San Andres, San Francisco)
– Camarines Norte
– Camarines Sur
– Catanduanes
– The rest of Albay
– Burias Island
– northern portion of mainland Masbate (Aroroy, Baleno, Masbate City, Mobo, Uson, Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz)
-Biliran
– the rest of Samar
– the rest of Eastern Samar

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1, which means winds of 30 to 60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours, is hoisted over the following areas:

– southern portion of Aurora (Baler, San Luis, Dingalan)
– southern portion of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Laur, San Leonardo, Peñaranda, Gapan City)
– Bulacan
– Metro Manila
– Cavite
– Laguna
– Batangas
– Rizal
– the rest of Quezon
– Marinduque
– nastern portion of Romblon (Banton, Corcuera, Calatrava, San Agustin, Romblon, Magdiwang, San Fernando, Cajidiocan)
– northern portion of Leyte (Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba, Leyte, Kananga, Capoocan, Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tunga, Jaro, Alangalang, Sta. Fe, Tacloban City, Palo, Pastrana, Dagami, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Tolosa, Ormoc City, Matag-ob, Palompon, Merida, Isabel, Albuena, Barauen, Julita, Dulag)

Landfall information

The typhoon is forecast to make landfall over Northern Samar or the northern portion of Eastern Samar on Thursday afternoon or early evening before heading towards Sorsogon late evening.

Pagasa said violent winds and heavy to torrential rains of the eyewall region will begin affecting Northern Samar and the northern portions of Samar and Eastern Samar in the next 12 hours.

“Further intensification remains likely before the typhoon makes landfall,” it added.

For Friday, the weather bureau said heavy to intense with at times torrential rains may be experienced in Bicol Region, and moderate to heavy with at times intense rains in Northern Samar, Quezon, Aurora, Marinduque, and Romblon.

Storm surge warning, coastal water condition

In the next 48 hours, storm surge of one to three meters may be experienced over the coastal areas of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar (east coast), Samar (west coast), Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon, and Aurora.

“Along with large swells, this storm surge may cause potentially life-threatening coastal inundation,” Pagasa said.

Sea travel is risky for all types of vessels over the seaboards of areas under TCWS, added the weather agency.

Forecast location

Ambo is forecast to be located in the vicinity of Ligao, Albay on Friday morning; in the vicinity of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya on Saturday morning; 70 km south southwest of Basco, Batanes on Sunday morning; and 565 km northeast of Basco, Batanes on Monday morning.

On Tuesday morning, Ambo is expected to be located outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility at 1,800 km northeast of extreme Northern Luzon.

GSG