6 areas under Signal Number 3 as Ambo targets Samar provinces

Six areas were placed under Signal No. 3 as Typhoon Ambo maintained its strength as it targets the Samar provinces, according to state weather bureau PAGASA on Thursday noon.

Ambo is seen to make landfall over Northern Samar or the northern portion of Eastern Samar between 12 noon and 2 p.m. on Thursday, PAGASA said. It will bring heavy to intense with at times torrential rains in the Samar provinces, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes.

Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are meanwhile expected over Albay, Camarines Sur, and the rest of Eastern Visayas.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 was raised in the following areas in Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions:

• Sorsogon
• Albay
• Ticao Island
• Northern Samar
• the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Arteche, Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpio, Canavid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, Borongan City, Maydolon)
• the northern portion of Samar (Calbayog City, Sta. Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan,San Jorge, Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Catbalogan, Jiabong, Motiong, Paranas, Tarangnan, San Sebastian, Hinabangan)

Under Signal No. 2, meanwhile, are:

• The southern portion of Quezon (Pagbilao, Atimonan, Padre Burgos, Plaridel, Agdangan, Unisan,Gumaca, Pitogo, Macalelon, Lopez, Caluag, General Luna, Catanauan, Perez, Alabat, Quezon, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Buenavista, San Narciso, Mulanay, San Andres,San Francisco)
• Biliran
• the rest of Samar
• the rest of Eastern Samar

Those under Signal No. 1 are:

• Aurora
• the southern portion of Nueva Ecija (General Mamerto Natividad,Palayan City, Cabanatuan, Santa Rosa, Jaen, San Isidro, San Antonio, Cabiao, Bongabon, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Laur, San Leonardo, Peñaranda, Gapan City)
• The northern portion of Leyte (Calubian,San Isidro, Tabango, Villaba, Leyte, Kananga, Capoocan, Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tunga, Jaro, Alangalang, Sta. Fe, Tacloban City, Palo, Pastrana, Dagami, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Tolosa, Ormoc City, Matagob, Palompon, Merida, Isabel, Albuera, Burauen, Julita, Dulag)

As of 10 a.m. on Thursday, the location Ambo, which was moving west at 15 km/h, was at 140 km east-southeast of Catarman, Northern Samar. It was packing maximum sustained winds of up to 150 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 185 km/h.