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Parts of Samar, Bicol under Signal No. 3 as Typhoon Ambo approaches land

May 14, 2020 | 8:03am

Parts of Samar, Bicol under Signal No. 3 as Typhoon Ambo approaches land

At 4 a.m., the eye of “Ambo” was located 230 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar bearing maximum sustained winds of 150 km per hour and gusts of up to 185 kph.

Joint Typhoon Warning Center

MANILA, Philippines (Update 3: 12:57 p.m.) — The threat to the Philippine landmass from Typhoon Ambo (international name: Vongfong) has grown as it moves closer to Samar Island, state weather bureau PAGASA said Thursday.

The first cyclone of the year—which comes at a time when the Philippines is battling the spread of the new coronavirus—is forecast to crash into land over Northern Samar or the northern portion of Eastern Samar between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.

After making a landfall over Samar Island, “Ambo” will head toward Sorsogon later this evening.

At 10 a.m., the eye of “Ambo” was located 140 km east southeast of Catarman in Northern Samar bearing maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gusts of up to 185 kph. It is moving west at 15 kph.

Weather forecasters placed these areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3:

Sorsogon
Albay
Ticao Island
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)

Violent winds and heavy to torrential rains of the eyewall region may start pounding Northern Samar and the northern portions of Samar and Eastern Samar within 12 hours.
Meanwhile, winds between 61 kph and 120 kph may prevail or be experienced in these areas under TCWS No. 2 in 24 hours:

Southern portion of Quezon (Pagbilao, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Plaridel, Agdangan, Unisan, Gumaca, Pitogo, Macalelon, Lopez, Calauag, General Luna, Catanauan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Buenavista, San Narciso, Mulanay, San Andres, San Francisco)
Biliran
Rest of Samar
Rest of Eastern Samar

TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over the following areas, which means winds between 30 and 40 kilometers per hour or intermittent rains may be experienced within 36 hours:

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)
Northern portion of Leyte (Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba, Leyte, Kananga, Capoocan, Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tunga, Jaro, Alangalang, Sta. Fe, Tacloban City, Palo, Pastrana, Dagami, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Tolosa, Ormoc City, Matag-ob, Palompon, Merida, Isabel, Albuera, Burauen, Julita, Dulag)

Rainfall outlook

PAGASA said residents of Samar provinces, Masbate, Sorsogon and Catanduanes will experience heavy to intense rains with at times torrential rains, while those living in Albay, Camarines Sur and the rest of Eastern Visayas will have moderate to heavy with at times intense rains.

By Friday, “Ambo” will dump heavy to intense rains over Bicol region. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will affect 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,” PAGASA said.

Storm surge of 2 to 4 meters may be experienced over coastal areas of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon and Aurora within 24 hours.

Weather forecasters warned that storm surge, along with large swells, may cause “potentially life-threatening coastal inundation.”