‘Amang’ maintains strength, moves closer to Sorsogon

Satellite Image-5:01 AM-January 18. SCREENGRAB from noah.dost.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical storm Amang (international name Mekkhala) moved closer to Sorsogon early Sunday.

Amang maintained its strength of 85 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 100 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its weather bulletin at 5 a.m.

Metro Manila was placed under Signal No. 1. Pope Francis will lead in celebrating a Mass at the Quirino Grandstand in the afternoon and is expected to be attended by millions.

Scattered rains are expected throughout the day. The storm will be closest to Manila between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Pagasa said.

The rest of the areas with storm signals are the following:

Signal No. 2

Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon incl. Polillo Island, Sorsogon, Masbate, Aurora, Marinduque, Burias Island including Ticao Island, Northern Samar, Northern part of Eastern Samar and Northern part of Samar.

Signal No. 1

Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Batangas, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Viscaya, Ifugao, Quirino, Isabela, Oriental Mindoro and Romblon, Rest of Samar, Rest of Eastern Samar and Biliran.

Amang moved west northwest at 15kph and was last observed 45 kilometers northwest of Catarman, Northern Samar.

Ocean waves may reach up to 6.5 meters within the 350 kilometer diameter of the storm.

Heavy to intense are expected within the same diameter, Pagasa said.

Fisherfolks and those with small sea craft are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and the eastern part of Mindanao.