‘Ambo’ downgraded to severe tropical storm as it moves through Luzon
MANILA, Philippines (Update 1, 2:57 p.m.) — “Ambo” (international name: Vongfong) weakened from a typhoon into a severe tropical storm Friday afternoon as it continued to spend more time over land.
But threat remains over many parts of Luzon as “Ambo” is still forecast to unleash strong winds and heavy rains.
The tropical cyclone—the first to hit the Philippines this year—forced tens of tens of thousands to flee their homes at a time when the country is put under lockdown, complicating the government’s response to the growing threat of the novel coronavirus.
At 1 p.m., the severe tropical storm was located in the vicinity of Agdangan town in Quezon with peak winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 150 kph. It is heading northwest at 20 kph.
It made six landfalls between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning: San Policarpio in Eastern Samar, Dalupiri Island and Capul Island in Northern Samar, Ticao Island and Burias Island in Masbate and San Andres in Quezon.
Weather forecasters raised tropical cyclone wind signals over the following areas:
TCWS No. 2 (Winds between 61 kph and 120 kph in at least 24 hours)
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- Apayao
- Abra
- Kalinga
- La Union
- Ifugao
- Mountain Province
- Benguet
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Quirino
- Tarlac
- Nueva Ecija
- Aurora
- Pampanga
- Bulacan
- Rizal
- Metro Manila
- Laguna
- Eastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Umingan, Balungao, Sta. Maria, Tayug, Asingan, San Manuel, Binalonan, Laoac, Urdaneta, Villasis, Rosales, Sto. Tomas, Alcala, Bautista, Bayambang, Urbiztondo, Basista, Malasiqui, Sta. Barbara, Manaoag, Mapandan, San Jacinto, San Fabian, Pozorrubio, Sison, Mangaldan, Dagupan, Calasiao, Binmaley, Lingayen, Bugallon, Aguilar, San Carlos, Mangatarem)
- Western portion of Isabela (Quezon, Mallig, Roxas, Quirino, San Manuel, Burgos, Gamu, Reina Mercedes, Aurora, Luna, Cabatuan, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, Cauayan, San Guillermo, Dinapugue, San Mateo, Alicia, Angadanan, Ramon, San Isidro, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, Santiago, Cordon)
- Cavite
- Quezon including Polillo Islands
- Camarines Norte
- Western portion of Camarines Sur (Del Gallego, Ragay, Lupi, Sipocot)
- Marinduque
- Batangas
TCWS No. 1 (Winds between 30 kph and 60 kph in at least 36 hours)
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Batanes
- Rest of Pangasinan
- Zambales
- Bataan
- Oriental Mindoro
- Burias Island
- Rest of Camarines Sur
- Northern portion of Albay (Tiwi, Malinao,Tabaco, Polangui, Libon, Oas, Ligao, Guinobatan, Pio Duran)
Rainfall outlook
Weather forecasters said moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over will be experienced Bicol region, Quezon, Aurora and Marinduque, Laguna, Rizal, Metro Manila, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino today.
By Saturday, residents of Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos region, Aurora and Nueva Ecija will have moderate to heavy with at times intense rains.
PAGASA warned that flooding and rain-induced landslide may happen in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall.
It added that risky for all types of sea vessels over the seaboards of areas under TCWS.
Forecast positions
- Saturday morning: In the vicinity of Bangued, Abra
- Sunday morning: 70 km southwest of Basco, Batanes
- Monday morning: 450 km northeast of Basco, Batanes
- Tuesday morning: 1,645 km northeast of Basco, Batanes
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