‘Ambo’ exits but new storm spotted

MTSAT ENHANCED IR Satellite Image for 1:32 a.m., 04 June 2012. pagasa.dost.gov.ph

Luzon was spared the wrath of Typhoon “Ambo” (international name: Mawar), which grew stronger as it traveled northeast and moved away from the country on Sunday, but the weather bureau spotted a new disturbance that could affect the country later this week.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) weather forecaster Samuel Duran said a low pressure area was spotted 1,190 kilometers east of southern Mindanao—still outside the country’s borders—Sunday.

“There is a potential that it could become a tropical cyclone,” said Duran, adding that Pagasa could be certain about  the low pressure area intensifying into a cyclone in a day or two.

Pagasa said that Ambo, the first tropical cyclone to enter  the country this year, was upgraded to a typhoon from a storm Sunday.

The typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph as of 5 p.m. Sunday, when it was 390 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan.

Pagasa said Ambo was dumping a lot of rain. Its estimated rainfall was 20-30 millimeters per hour within its 400 km diameter.

The typhoon, which slowed as it neared Luzon, was traveling at a speed of 13 kph as it headed northeast.

With Ambo headed out of the country, Pagasa has lifted all  storm signals in the provinces of north Luzon, said Duran.

But Pagasa warned that much of the country would experience rain and overcast skies Monday, when millions of Filipino children return to school.

Prevailing system

According to the weather bureau, the tropical cyclone would enhance the southwest monsoon, the weather system that brings rains in the mornings and afternoons.

The southwest monsoon is the prevailing weather system in the Philippines from June to November, the wet season.

Pagasa said the cyclone and the southwest monsoon would  bring occasional to frequent rains over Luzon and the Visayas Monday, “which may trigger flash floods and landslides.”

According to Pagasa, the affected provinces are Palawan, Mindoro, Marinduque, Antique, Aklan, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros, Romblon, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur and Norte, Catanduanes, Batangas, Quezon, Aurora, Cavite, Bataan, Zambales and Metro Manila.

Mindanao will have mostly cloudy skies with afternoon or evening rain showers and thunderstorms.

Heading for Japan

Pagasa also advised against sea travel in Luzon and the  Visayas, saying that coastal waters in their seaboards will be moderate to rough.

As of Sunday afternoon, Ambo was seen headed to  Japan and leaving the Philippine area of responsibility tomorrow.

Pagasa said Ambo was expected to be 510 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes, this afternoon. It will be 770 km east northeast of Basco Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the 30 fishermen reported missing in the rough waters of Catanduanes were rescued on Saturday evening but five other fishermen were still missing, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said Sunday.

No reports on missing

Bernardo Alejandro, OCD regional director, in a text message said all 30 crew of the F/B Crismar were safe and undergoing medical treatment in Viga,  Catanduanes.

However, there were still no reports on the five missing fishermen from Pandan, Catanduanes, and Lagonoy, Camarines Sur.

The subjects of a search were Nelson Pante Jr., Romarico Bermejo and Carlito de Quiros,  from Pandan, Catanduanes, Alejandro said.

At least two fishermen from Barangay (village) Mapid, Lagonoy, who set off on Thursday at 3 a.m. on a 16-horsepower fishing boat named the 2 Brothers were reported missing, said Alejandro, quoting a report from the Camarines Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.