‘Ambo’ now a typhoon; Signal No. 1 up over Batanes, Calayan islands

MTSAT ENHANCED IR Satellite Image for 12:32 p.m., 03 June 2012

MANILA, Philippines –The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Sunday raised public storm warning Signal No. 1 in parts of Luzon after “Ambo”  has intensified into a typhoon.

In its latest weather bulletin issued at  11: 00 a.m.,  Pagasa raised Signal No.1 over  Batanes Group of Islands and Calayan Islands  with  winds up to 60 kilometers per hour (kph).

As of 10:00 a.m., the center of the typhoon was spotted at 320 kilometers  East Northeast of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150kph.

It  was moving North-Northeast at 13 kph and expected to make landfall at 420 km East- Northeast of Basco, Batanes Monday morning,  700 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes  Tuesday morning, and  1,090 km North Northeast of Basco, Batanes, Wednesday morning.

Pagasa said the estimated rainfall amount was from 20 – 30 millimeters  per hour (heavy) within the 400 km diameter of the typhoon.

“Ambo” was also expected to enhance the Southwest Monsoon that will bring rains over the whole country especially the western section.

Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning Signal No. 1 were advised by the state weather bureau against possible flashfloods and landslides.

Pagasa also advised fishing boats and other small seacrafts not to venture out into the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon due to the combined effect of typhoon “Ambo” and the Southwest Monsoon.