PAGASA Places 12 Areas in Luzon, Visayas Under Signal No. 1 Due to TS ‘Amang’

Manila (PNA) -– At least 12 areas in Luzon and Visayas are now under public storm warning signal no. 1 as tropical storm “Amang” continues to move westward towards Eastern Visayas and has maintained its strength, according to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday.

In a interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that the areas placed under storm warning signal no. 1 (winds of 30-60 kph expected in at least 36 hours) are Catanduanes, Albay, Burias Island, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao Island, Camarines Sur, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran and Leyte.

According to Aurelio, the potential impacts of the winds under signal no. 1 are the twigs and branches of trees may be broken; one banana plants may tilt or land flat on the ground; rice in flowering stage may suffer significant damage; some nipa and cogon houses may be partially unroofed; and sea travel of small seacrafts and fishing boats is risky.

”Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of the provinces with PSWS#1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides,” PAGASA warned.

The weather bureau said that the estimated rainfall amount is from 7.5 to 20 mm per hour (heavy to intense) within the 300 km diameter of the tropical storm.

PAGASA said that ocean waves may reach up to 6.5 meters.

Fisherfolks and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon and the Eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon, Visayas and of Mindanao.

PAGASA also said in the next six hours, public storm warning signal may possibly be raised over Camarines Norte, Marinduque and Romblon.

Aurelio said that as of 5 a.m., tropical storm Amang was located at 565 km East Northeast of Borongan City (12.0°N, 130.6°E) still packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. It is forecast to move West at 19 kph.

With its maintained speed and strength, Aurelio said tropical storm Amang may make a landfall in Eastern Visayas on Saturday.

He added that Amang may also recurve up and weaken in the process due to the presence of northeast monsoon.

For Friday forecast, PAGASA said that the regions of Caraga and Eastern Visayas will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains while the rest of Visayas and Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains. Thunderstorms are likely to occur over these areas.

Cagayan Valley will be cloudy with light rains while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated light rains.

It added that moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast to North will prevail over Mindanao and eastern section of Visayas, and from the northeast over the rest of the country with moderate to rough seas.

PAGASA also issued a gale warning due to the combined effects of northeast monsoon and tropical storm Amang making the sea condition to be rough to very rough due to strong gale force winds expected to affect the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon and the Eastern seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

”Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned. (PNA) FFC/CLTC