Typhoon Ambo makes landfall in Eastern Samar

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Ambo has made landfall over San Policarpo, Eastern Samar, on Thursday noon as more areas were placed under tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS), according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

The typhoon, with international name Vongfong, hit land at exactly 12:15 p.m and is moving towards the northern portion of Samar province, Pagasa said in its 2 p.m. severe weather bulletin.

Pagasa said the eyewall of Typhoon “Ambo” is bringing violent winds and heavy to intense rains over the northern portion of Eastern Samar. The northern portion of Samar and the southern portion of Northern Samar will also be affected by the eyewall in the coming hours.

at 12:15PM (14 May 2020): Typhoon #AmboPH has made landfall over San Policarpio, Eastern Samar. pic.twitter.com/B7yDovS9vv

— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) May 14, 2020

The eye or center of the typhoon was located in the vicinity of Oras, Eastern Samar at 1 p.m. It is moving westward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph) and is packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph.

Heavy to intense rains will be experienced over Samar Provinces, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Albay, Camarines Sur, and the rest of Eastern Visayas, according to the weather bureau.

TCWS No. 3, which means winds of greater than 121 kph up to 170 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours. is raised over the following areas:

– Sorsogon
– Albay
– Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands
– Catanduanes
– southern portion of Camarines Sur (Cabusao, Libmanan, Pasacao, Pamplona, Canaman, Magarao, Bombon, Calabanga, Camaligan, Gainza, San Fernando, Milaor, Naga, Tinambac, Siruma, Pili, Goa, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Minalabac, Caramoan, Presentacion, Bula, Ocampo, Tigaon, San Jose, Balatan, Nabua, Baao, Sagnay, Bato, Nabua, Iriga, Buhi)
– Northern Samar
– northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpio, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan City, Maydolong)
– northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Catbalogan, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Tarangnan, San Sebastian, Hinabangan)
– Biliran

TCWS No. 2, which means winds of greater than 61 km/h and up to 120 km/h may be expected in at least 24 hours, is raised over the following areas:

– Camarines Norte
– the rest of Camarines Sur
– the rest of Quezon
– Marinduque
– northernmost portion of Leyte (Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tunga, Alangalang, Sta. Fe, Palo, Tacloban City, Jaro)
– the rest of Samar
– the rest of Eastern Samar

Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1, which means winds of 30-60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours, is hoisted over the following areas:

– Aurora
– southern portion of Nueva Ecija (General Mamerto Natividad, Palayan City, Cabanatuan, Santa Rosa, Jaen, San Isidro, San Antonio, Cabiao, Bongabon, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Laur, San Leonardo, Peñaranda, Gapan City)
– Bulacan
– Metro Manila
– Cavite
– Laguna
– Batangas
– Rizal
– the rest of Quezon
– Romblon
– Bataan
– Pampanga
– the rest of northern portion of Leyte (Villaba, Kananga, Matag-ob, Palompon, Ormoc, Merida, Isabel, Ormoc City, Albuena, Pastrana, Dagami, Tanauan, Tabontabon, Tolosa, Barauen, Julita, Dulag)
– northeastern portion of Capiz (Pilar)
– northeastern portion of Iloilo (Carles, Balasan, Estancia, Batad), and Northern Cebu (Medelin, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Bantayan, Santa Fe)

Pagasa warned that storm surge of two to four meters may be observed in the coastal areas of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar (east coast), Samar (west coast), Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon, and Aurora.

“Along with large swells, this storm surge may cause potentially life-threatening coastal inundation,” the weather bureau also said.

Sea travel is risky for all types of aircraft over the seaboards of areas under TCWS.

For Friday, heavy to intense rains will be experienced over Bicol Region, and moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Northern Samar, Quezon, Aurora, Marinduque, and Romblon.

Flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall, according to Pagasa.

Typhoon Ambo is forecast to be located in the vicinity of Lopez, Quezon on Friday morning; in the vicinity of Tineg, Abra on Saturday morning, 75 km northeast of Basco, Batanes on Sunday morning; 780 km northeast of Basco, Batanes on Monday morning; and 1,915 km northeast of Basco, Batanes outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday morning.