TROPICAL Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2 was hoisted over some areas in Samar Island as the weather system named Ambo rapidly intensified into a typhoon Wednesday night, May 13.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Ambo intensified into a typhoon at 8 p.m. Wednesday and it is forecast to continuously intensify in the next 24 hours.
"The typhoon may pass close to Northern Samar tomorrow evening before making landfall over Albay-Sorsogon area on Friday early morning," Pagasa said in its 11 p.m. Wednesday bulletin.
As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, the eye of the typhoon was located at 245 kilometers east northeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar or 325 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar.
The typhoon was packing maximum winds of up to 130 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of up to 160 km/h. It was moving westward at 15 km/h, Pagasa said.
Placed under TCWS Number 2 are the province of Northern Samar, the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpio, Can-avid, Taft), and the northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanjan, San Jorge, Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan).
Under TCWS Number 1 are Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, Catanduanes, and Masbate, as well as the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, and Biliran.
Pagasa said moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced Thursday, May 14, over Eastern Visayas, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate.
On Friday, May 15, there will be heavy to intense with at times torrential rains in Bicol Region and Northern Samar.
Residents in Calabarzon, Aurora, Marinduque, Romblon, and Mindoro Provinces will experience moderate to heavy rains.
"Residents in these areas are advised to take appropriate measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates," said Pagasa.
It added that flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall.
The weather bureau also said that strong to near gale force winds will begin to affect the Samar provinces and Biliran Thursday morning, May 14; Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate Thursday evening; and Camarines Provinces Friday early morning, May 15.
Damaging gale to storm force winds will begin to affect the areas under TCWS Number 2 Thursday afternoon, it added.
Pagasa said TCWS Number 1 may also be raised over Quezon and Marinduque Thursday morning.
Residents in areas under TCWS have also been warned against going on sea travel, with Pagasa saying it is risky for all types of seacrafts. (LMY)