Tropical storm Amang weakens further

After crossing Camarines Norte and now over Lamon Bay, Tropical storm "Amang" has further weakened due to interaction in landmass and also with the presence of northeast monsoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Sunday (Jan. 18).

PAGASA weather forecaster Alvin Pura said that tropical storm has made three landfall first in Dolores, Eastern Samar on Saturday around 3 p.m., second landfall in Sorsogon at 5 a.m. on Sunday and 3rd in Camarines Sur around 8:30 a.m.

Pura said the maximum sustained wind of tropical storm Amang has decreased from 75 kph on Sunday morning to 65 kph in the afternoon while its gustiness also lowered from 90 kph to 80 kph.

Pura explained due to series of landfall and also with presence of strong winds of northeast monsoon, Amang headed towards Northern Luzon which has been interacting with the circulation of the cyclone, reducing its intensity.

He also said tropical storm Amang will continue to weaken as it headed towards Northern Luzon and expected to dissipate due to the presence of strong northeast monsoon.

He said that as of 4 p.m. (Sunday) tropical storm Amang was located at 35 km North Northwest of Daet, Camarines Norte (14.4°N, 122.8°E). it is forecast to move north northwest at 16 kph.

Tropical storm Amang is forecast to be at 170 km East of Tuguegarao City by Monday afternoon.

By Tuesday afternoon, it is expected to be at 400 km East of Basco, Batanes and by Wednesday afternoon expected to be at 620 km East Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.

Meanwhile, Pura said that 17 areas in Luzon including Metro Manila are still under public storm warning signal no. 2 and no.1.

He said that areas under Storm Signal No. 2 (Winds of 61-100 kilometers per hour expected in at least 24 hours) are Camarines Norte, Northern Quezon including Polillo Island and Aurora province.

These areas will have stormy weather with heavy to intense rains. Residents along coastal areas are alerted against possible storm surges of less than two meters.

On the other hand, public storm warning Signal No. 1 (Winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hours) is hoisted over Camarines Sur, Rest of Quezon, Marinduque, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Quirino, Isabela.

These areas will have occasional rains with occasional gusty winds.

Residents in low lying and mountainous areas of these provinces with PSWS#2 and #1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides.

The estimated rainfall amount is from 7.5 – 20 mm per hour (heavy - intense) within the 300 km diameter of the Tropical Storm.

Ocean waves may reach up to 5.0 meters within the 300 km diameter of the storm.

Fisherfolk and those with small seacrafts are advised not to venture out over the seaboards of Luzon and Eastern seaboard of Samar.

Meanwhile, public Storm Warning signals elsewhere are now lifted.

In the next 24 hours forecast, PAGASA said the provinces of Camarines Norte, Aurora and Northern Quezon including Polillo Island will be stormy with rough to very rough seas.

Metro Manila, rest of Calabarzon and the provinces of Camarines Sur, Quirino, Isabela, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Marinduque will have rains with gusty winds with moderate to rough seas.

Ilocos Region, Cordillera and the rest of Cagayan Valley, of Central Luzon and of Bicol Region and the provinces of Romblon and Mindoro will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains while the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies. Thunderstorms are likely to occur over these areas.
It added moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over the rest of Luzon and northwest to southwest over the rest of the country with moderate to rough seas.

Due to the effects of tropical storm "Amang" and the Northeast Monsoon, it will bring rough to very rough sea conditions over the seaboards of northern and western seaboards of Luzon and the seaboard of Samar.

"Fisherfolk and those using small seacraft are advised not to venture out over the said seaboards," it warned. (PNA)