Signal No.1 raised over Luzon, Visayas as Ambo strengthens into severe storm

Tropical storm Ambo has further intensified into a severe tropical storm as it moves west-northwestward, PAGASA announced on Wednesday afternoon.

In its 5 p.m. Severe Weather Bulletin, the weather agency has raised tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) No.1 over parts of Luzon and Visayas:

• 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
• The 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)
• The northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog, Oras, San Policarpio, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan City)

Meanwhile, TCWS No.1 may be raised over the southern portion of Camarines Sur and the rest of Albay in the next bulletin at 11 p.m., PAGASA said.

At 4 p.m. on Wednesday the center of Ambo was estimated at 315 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

PAGASA said Ambo may further intensify as it approaches the Eastern Visayas-Bicol Region area.

According to GMA's resident meteorologist Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz, Ambo may landfall in Northern Samar or the Bicol Region on Thursday night or Friday morning.

It may make a second landfall in Aurora before passing Northern Luzon.

Heavy rainfall outlook

On Wednesday evening, Ambo may bring scattered light to moderate with, at times, heavy rainshowers during thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas.

On Thursday, the severe tropical storm may bring moderate to heavy rains over Eastern Visayas, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate.

The weather agency advised affected residents to take precautionary measures and coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices.

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

Sea travel is risky over the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region and the northern and eastern seabords of Eastern Visayas.

Thunderstorm warning

According to PAGASA, moderate to heavy rainshowers with lightning and strong winds are expected over Zambales, Pampanga, and Quezon within the next two hours.

In a thunderstorm advisory, the weather agency said that above conditions are currently being experienced in portions of Metro Manila, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, and Batangas, which may persist within two hours and affect nearby areas.

"All are advised to take precautionary measures against the impacts associated with these hazards which include flash floods and landslides," the weather agency said.—LDF, GMA News