‘Ambo’ intensifies into severe tropical storm

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm “Ambo” (international name: Vongfong) has intensified into a severe tropical storm, the state weather bureau said Wednesday.

In the 5 p.m. weather bulletin issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Ambo was last spotted at 315 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

Ambo also packed maximum sustained winds of  95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

The severe tropical storm was also seen moving west northwest at 10 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No.1 is raised over the following areas: Sorsogon, Ticao Island, Catanduanes, southern portion of Albay (Oas,Tabaco, Ligao City, Pio Duran, Guinobatan, Malilipot, Jovellar, Camalig, Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Rapu-rapu, Daraga, Legazpi, Manito), Northern Samar, northern portion of Samar (Calbayog, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose De Buan, Tarangnan, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, San Sebastian, Paranas, Hinabangan),and northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog, Oras, San Policarpio, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan City).

Pagasa said that scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rainshowers during thunderstorms is expected over Eastern Visayas.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains may hover over Eastern Visayas, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate on Thursday due to Ambo, Pagasa added.