One of the low-pressure areas being monitored by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration has developed into a tropical depression named “Ambo,” making it the first tropical cyclone to form inside the country’s area of responsibility this year.
PAGASA said the weather disturbance developed into a tropical depression at around 8 a.m. yesterday.
The other LPA being monitored by PAGASA has dissipated.
Ambo was estimated at 182 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes at around 10 a.m. yesterday, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour.
Should it maintain its west-northwest track at 19 kph, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said Ambo will likely make landfall over Aurora today.
Ambo may bring occasional moderate to heavy rains and gusty winds over Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, northern Quezon, including Polillo Islands, Aurora, and Quirino in the next 36 hours.
Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas in these provinces were asked to be on alert for possible flash floods and landslides.
PAGASA also said occasional moderate to heavy rains is expected over Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes starting yesterday.
It said Ambo is expected to weaken after making landfall over Aurora.
This has been the first time since January that a tropical cyclone has formed and affected the country.
PAGASA has earlier attributed the lack of tropical cyclones to the prevailing El Niño phenomenon, adding that the country may observe fewer than average number of tropical cyclones this year due to its lingering effect. (Ellalyn B. de Vera)
