As of the 7:45 a.m weather bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Typhoon Ambo has already made its landfall in San Andres, Quezon.
Although it continues to weaken, it is currently moving northwest at 15 kilometers per hour (kph). The typhoon is also packing maximum sustained winds of 125 kph near its center, while its gustiness records up to 165 kph.
Due to this, Bicol, Quezon, Aurora and Marinduque are expected to experience moderate to heavy with at times intense rains. Typhoon signal number three is also raised in the western portion ng Camarines Sur, the extreme western portion of Camarines Norte, Burias Island, Marinduque, eastern portion ng Quezon and eastern portion of Laguna.
Meanwhile, under signal number two are the southeastern portion ng Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, Cavite, Batanga, western portion ng Masbate, Ticao Island, Albay, Sorsogon, southern portion ng Catanduanes, eastern portion ng Romblon and the remaining parts of Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.
Lastly, placed under signal number one are Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands), Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, the extreme northeastern portion of Capiz, northeastern portion ng Iloilo, western portion ng Northern Samar and remaining parts of Pangasinan, Catanduanes, Masbate and Romblon.
Sea travel is currently categorized as risky for all types of vessels in all of these areas. Additionally, PAGASA warned that flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall.
Moreover, storm surges as high as two meters may be experienced over the coastal areas in the Bicol region, Quezon, and Aurora in the next 24 hours. According to the weather bureau, this may result in “potentially life-threatening coastal inundation.”
Despite this, PAGASA forecasts that the typhoon is expected to weaken gradually and exit the Philippine area of responsibility on May 18.
Typhoon Ambo first made its landfall in San Policarpo, Eastern Samar on the afternoon of May 14, followed by Dalupiri island and Capul island in Northern Samar. It also made its landfall at Ticao Island in Masbate on the midnight of May 15, followed by Burias Island in Masbate.
Header photo by Gerard Vincent Francisco for Cebu Daily News
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