Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 14) – Signal No. 2 was raised over the the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar late Wednesday night as tropical storm ‘Ambo’ continues to intensify as a typhoon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA hoisted Tropical Storm Signal No. 2 in the whole Northern Samar province and the northern portion of Eastern Samar, particularly in the towns of Arteche, Can-avid, Dolores, Jipapad, Maslog, Oras, San Policarpio, and Taft.
Also under Signal No. 2 is the northern portion of Samar province, covering the towns of Gandara, Matuguinao, Pagsanghan, San Jose, San Jose de Buan, Sta. Margarita, and Calbayog City.
The rest of both Eastern Samar and Samar provinces, Biliran, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, and Camarines Norte are under Tropical Storm Signal No. 1.
PAGASA also said Signal No. 1 may be raised on Thursday over the provinces of Quezon and Marinduque.
Weather specialist Ariel Rojas said Ambo’s strength doubled during the last 24 hours.
“Halos dumoble yung lakas ni Ambo, from 65 kilometers per hour kagabi,” Rojas said. “Ngayon 130 kilometers per hour na.“
[Translation: Ambo’s strength doubled from 65 kilometers per hour last night to 130 kilometers per hour today.]
As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, forecasters located the eye of ‘Ambo’ at 325 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar and moving westward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph).
‘Ambo’ increased its maximum sustained winds at 130 kph, while its gustiness also intensified at 160 kph, the weather agency added.
PAGASA said the whole Eastern Visayas, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate region will experience moderate to heavy rains tomorrow with at times intense rains coupled with thunderstorms.
The forecasting agency also said there will be heavy to intense with at times torrential rains with thunderstorms on Friday in the Bicol region and Northern Samar.
Also on Friday, there will be moderate to heavy rains over the CALABARZON region, Aurora, Marinduque, Romblon, and Mindoro provinces.
In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said it expects ‘Ambo’ to be located 100 kilometers east of Juban, Sorsogon.
By Friday evening, the tropical storm is expected to be located 60 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon.
The storm is seen to reach 60 kilometers south southwest of Calayan, Cagayan by Saturday night, before it travels 410 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes on Sunday evening.
‘Ambo’ is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday, said PAGASA.
