TYPHOON Ambo (Vongfong) has slightly weakened after crossing Samar Island and is expected to make landfall over the coast of Albay or the northern portion of Sorsogon in the coming hours.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the eyewall of Ambo is currently bringing violent winds and heavy to intense rains over southern Sorsogon and Ticao Island.
As of 10 p.m. Thursday, May 14, the state weather bureau said the eye of the typhoon was located in 40 kilometers (km) west southwest of Catarman, Northern Samar or 60 km southeast of Juban, Sorsogon, with maximum sustained winds of up to 130 km per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of up to 215 km/h. It was moving northwest at 15 km/h.
Areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 3 (121-170 km/h winds) will experience strong to destructive typhoon-force winds during the passage of the typhoon.
The areas under TCWS Number 3 are Sorsogon, Albay, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Marinduque, and the southern portion of Quezon (Pagbilao, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Plaridel, Unisan, Gumaca, Pitogo, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Calauag, Lopez, Macalelon, General Luna, Catanauan, Buenavista, Guinayangan, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco)
The western portion of Northern Samar (San Vicente, Capul, San Antonio, Allen, Victoria, San Isidro, Biri, Lavezares, Rosario, San Jose, Bobon, Catarman, Lope de Vega, Mondragon, San Roque, Pambujan, Silvino Lobos) and the northwestern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Tarangnan, Sto. Niño, Almagro, Tagapul-an).
The areas under TCWS Number 2 (61-120 km/h winds) will experience strong to damaging gale/storm-force winds during the passage of the typhoon.
The areas are: the southern portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Baler, Maria Aurora, San Luis, Dingalan), the southern portion of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, Laur, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Peñaranda, Gapan City, San Leonardo, San Isidro, Cabiao), the eastern portion of Pampanga (Candaba, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit), Bulacan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, the rest of Quezon, and Romblon.
The rest of Northern Samar, the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, San Policarpo, Oras, Maslog, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian), the central and northeastern portions of Samar (Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Catbalogan City, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Hinabangan, San Sebastian, Zumarraga, Daram, Talalora, Villareal, Pinabacdao, Calbiga), and Biliran.
Areas under TCWS Number 1 (30-60 km/h winds) will experience strong to near gale-force winds during the passage of the typhoon.
The areas under TCWS Number 1: Mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, the rest of Nueva Ecija, the rest of Pampanga, the rest of Aurora, and Oriental Mindoro.
The northern portion of Leyte (Calubian, San Isidro, Tabango, Leyte, Capoocan, Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tunga, Alangalang, Sta. Fe, Palo, Tacloban City, Jaro, Villaba, Kananga, Matag-ob, Palompon, Merida, Isabel, Ormoc City, Albuena, Pastrana, Dagami, Tanauan, Tabontabon, Tolosa, Burauen, Julita, Dulag), the rest of Samar, the rest of Eastern Samar, the northeastern portion of Capiz (Pilar), the northeastern portion of Iloilo (Carles, Balasan, Estancia, Batad), and the northern portion of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Bantayan, Santa Fe).
The state weather bureau said between Thursday evening to Friday evening, May 15, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced over Bicol Region, Quezon, Northern Samar, Marinduque, Laguna, and Rizal.
Pagasa added that between Friday and Saturday evening, May 16, moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced over Northern Quezon, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Isabela, Cagayan, ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Apayao, and Benguet.
Meanwhile, in the next 24 hours, storm surge of more than two meters may be experienced over the coastal areas of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur (north and east coast), Camarines Norte, and Quezon (coast facing Lamon and Lopez Bays) and between one to two meters over the other coastal areas of Bicol Region, Quezon, and the coastal areas of Aurora, Samar (west coast), and Northern Samar (northwestern coast).
"Along with large swells, this storm surge may cause potentially life-threatening coastal inundation," Pagasa said.
The state weather bureau added that sea travel is risky for all types of seacraft over the seaboards of areas under TCWS. (SunStar Philippines)