Ambo intensifies into a tropical storm as it moves north

MANILA, Philippines – Ambo has intensified from a tropical depression to a storm on Tuesday as it started to pick up speed moving north, the latest forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

In its Tuesday night briefing, Pagasa said that Ambo (international known as Yongfong) had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center with a gustiness reaching up to 80 kph.  It was last seen 400 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

It also started to move faster at 20 kph compared to Monday’s observation that it was almost stationary.

By Wednesday night, it would be 375 km east of Catarman, Northern Samar, and by Thursday it would be 30 km east-northeast of the same town, he added.

On Tuesday afternoon, Ambo was reported to have maintained its strength of 55 kph with a gustiness reaching up to 70 kph.

Pagasa previously asked people to start preparing for the storm.

Light to moderate rains with occasional heavy showers may prevail in Mindanao and Eastern Visayas from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning, while areas of Eastern Visayas, Catanduanes, Albay, and Sorsogon may have moderate to heavy rains starting Wednesday night.

Luzon may also have rains, but these would not yet be caused by Ambo. But by Wednesday night to Thursday, eastern parts of Luzon would experience rains due to the trough of the storm.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 may be raised over Eastern Samar and the eastern part of Northern Samar in the next six to 12 hours, while maritime travel in these areas might be suspended as sea condition may range from moderate to rough.

Residents in the affected areas are urged to monitor the latest Pagasa updates and their local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Offices, as flooding and landslides are possible especially in low-lying areas and on slopes.

/atm