SEVERAL areas in Luzon and Visayas have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 1 as Tropical Depression “Amang” continued to move westward toward the northern coast of Catanduanes while maintaining its strength Tuesday afternoon, April 11, 2023.
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, the center of Amang was located 130 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes or 250 kilometers east of Daet, Camarines Norte in Luzon, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
The weather bureau added that Amang was packing maximum winds of 55 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 70 km/h, and central pressure of 1002 hPa. It was moving westward at 30 km/h.
Pagasa said strong winds brought by Amang may extend outwards up to 300 kilometers from the cyclone’s center.
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, TCWS 1 was hoisted over Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon including Pollilo Islands, Marinduque, Ticao Island, Burias Island, Rizal, Laguna (San Pablo City, Alaminos, Calauan, Bay, Los Baños, Rizal, Nagcarlan, Victoria, Pila, Liliw, Magdalena, Majayjay, Luisiana, Cavinti, Pagsanjan, Santa Cruz, Lumban, Kalayaan, Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Famy, Santa Maria, Mabitac), Aurora, Bulacan (Norzagaray, Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso), Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Alfonso Castaneda), Nueva Ecija (General Tinio, City of Gapan, Peñaranda, San Leonardo, Santa Rosa, Cabanatuan City, Talavera, San Jose City, Carranglan, Pantabangan, Llanera, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Bongabon, Laur, Palayan City, Gabaldon) and Isabela (Echague, San Agustin, Jones, Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Palanan, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, City of Cauayan) in Luzon.
Also under TCWS 1 were Northern Samar, Samar (Calbayog City, Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Gandara, Santa Margarita, San Jorge) and Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Maslog, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo, Dolores) in the Visayas.
Pagasa said these areas may experience strong winds (strong breeze to near gale strength) associated with Amang, which may pose minimal to minor threat to life and property.
“Wind Signal No. 1 may be hoisted in other localities in Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley in succeeding bulletins,” said Pagasa.
It also said that Amang will bring heavy rains (50-100 mm) in Bicol Region and Northern Samar, while there will be intense rains (100-200 mm) in the northern portion of Quezon and the eastern portion of Laguna from Tuesday afternoon until Thursday evening, April 13.
Pagasa also issued Tuesday a marine gale warning over Catanduanes, the eastern coasts of Albay and Sorsogon, and the northern and eastern coasts of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar.
It said that in the next 24 hours, there will be moderate to rough seas (1.2 to 2.8 m) over the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Eastern Visayas that are not under any gale warning.
“Mariners of small seacrafts are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” Pagasa said.
It said that Amang was forecast to track generally westward or west northwestward toward Bicol Region Tuesday before turning west northwestward or northwestward for the remainder of the forecast period.
“While the current track forecast shows that the tropical depression will remain offshore over the waters east of Luzon for the next three days, the forecast confidence cone shows that a landfall scenario over the Bicol Peninsula area is not ruled out (may pass over or very close near Catanduanes), especially for the next nine hours,” said the weather bureau.
It added that throughout the forecast period, Amang was forecast to remain as a tropical depression, with the possibility of weakening into a low pressure area by late Thursday or early Friday, April 14. (LMY)