PAGASA announced Wednesday evening Severe Tropical Storm Ambo, with international name Vongfong has “rapidly intensified” into a typhoon.
In its Severe Weather Bulletin, PAGASA said that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 had been raised over the following areas:
- Northern Samar
- The northern portion of Eastern Samar (Arteche, Can-avid, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog, Oras, San Policarpio, Taft)
- The northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Sta. Margarita)
TCWS No. 1 has been raised over the following areas:
- The rest of Eastern Samar
- The rest of Samar
- Biliran
- Masbate
- Sorsogon
- Albay
- Catanduanes
- Camarines Sur
- Camarines Norte
TCWS no. 1 may be raised over Quezon and Marinduque, according to PAGASA.
At 3:00 AM today, the eye of Typhoon “AMBO” {VONGFONG} was estimated based on all available data at 250 km East of Catarman, Northern Samar (12.1 °N, 126.9 °E) with maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 180 km/h. It is moving towards the West at 15 km/h.
Heavy Rainfall Outlook
- Today (May 14): Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Eastern Visayas, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate.
- Friday (May 15): Heavy to intense with at times torrential rains over Bicol Region and Northern Samar. Moderate to heavy rains over CALABARZON, Aurora, Marinduque, Romblon, and Mindoro Provinces.
Residents in these areas are advised to take appropriate measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates, especially the local rainfall or thunderstorm advisories and heavy rainfall warnings from PAGASA Regional Services Divisions (PRSD). Flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall.
Strong to near gale force winds will begin affecting the Samar Provinces and Biliran Thursday morning; Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate Thursday evening; Camarines Provinces Friday early morning.
Damaging gale to storm-force winds will begin affecting the areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #2 Thursday afternoon.
Ambo (international name Vongfong) intensified into a typhoon at 8:00 PM Wednesday. It is forecast to intensify in the next 24 hours continuously.
The typhoon may pass close to Northern Samar tomorrow evening before making landfall over the Albay-Sorsogon area on Friday, early morning.
Ambo is expected to exit the Philippines by Monday (May 18) evening.
Also read: List of typhoon names in Philippines 2020