MANILA, Philippines — The eyewall of Typhoon Ambo is bringing violent winds and heavy rains over Northern Samar, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
In the 8 p.m. weather update of the state weather bureau, Ambo was last monitored at the vicinity of Catarman, Northern Samar.
The typhoon also maintained its strength, Pagasa said, as it packed maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph.
Ambo was also monitored moving west at 15 kph.
For Thursday night, Pagasa said that the typhoon is set to bring heavy to at times intense rains over Samar Provinces, Masbate, and Sorsogon, as well as moderate to at times heavy rains over Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and the rest of Eastern Visayas.
Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Quezon, Aurora, Marinduque, and Romblon, meanwhile, can expect moderate to heavy with at times intense rains on Friday.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3, where winds of greater than 121 kph up to 170 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours, is still raised over the following areas:
Sorsogon
Albay
Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands,
Catanduanes
Camarines Sur
Camarines Norte
southernmost portion of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Calauag, Lopez, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista, Guinayangan, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco)
Northern Samar,
the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan City, Maydolong)
the northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Catbalogan, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Tarangnan, San Sebastian, Hinabangan)
Biliran
TCWS No. 2, which winds of greater than 61 kph and up to 120 kph may be expected in at least 24 houris hoisted over:
The rest of Quezon province
Romblon
Laguna
Batangas
Rizal
The northernmost portion of Leyte (Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tunga, Alangalang, Sta. Fe, Palo, Tacloban City, Jaro)
the rest of Samar
the rest of Eastern Samar
And these areas are under TCWS No. 1, where winds of 30 to 60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours:
Aurora
Nueva Ecija
Bulacan
Metro Manila
Cavite
Bataan
Pampanga
Isabela
Nueva Vizcaya
Quirino
Tarlac
Zambales
Oriental Mindoro
Pangasinan
Ifugao
Bengue
La Union
The rest of northern portion of Leyte (Villaba, Kananga, Matag-ob, Palompon, Ormoc, Merida, Isabel, Ormoc City, Albuena, Pastrana, Dagami, Tanauan, Tabontabon, Tolosa, Barauen, Julita, Dulag)
the northeastern portion of Capiz (Pilar)
the northeastern portion of Iloilo (Carles, Balasan, Estancia, Batad)
Northern Cebu (Medelin, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Bantayan, Santa Fe)