Lasting only a few hours, the first tropical cyclone to hit the country this year immediately weakened into a low pressure area after making landfall over Dinalungan, Aurora early yesterday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration.
Tropical depression “Ambo” made landfall over Dinalungan at around 12:30 a.m. and was over the West Philippine Sea at 3 a.m. also the same day, said PAGASA weather forecaster Obet Badrina.
PAGASA has lifted all tropical cyclone warning signals as the LPA continues to move away from the country, he said.
The weather disturbance will only have minimal effect on areas earlier directly affected by Ambo, he added.
Ambo, which was first spotted as an LPA last Friday, barely lasted a day as PAGASA announced its intensification from LPA to tropical depression at around 11 a.m. Sunday. It immediately weakened to LPA after its landfall past midnight yesterday.
However, he noted that PAGASA is not discounting the possibility that the LPA may re-intensify as it can draw fuel from the sea.
As of 4 a.m. yesterday, the LPA was estimated 66 kilometers west of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and thunderstorms will continue over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province.
Likewise, the intertropical convergence zone, a breeding ground for potential cyclones, will bring light to moderate rains and thunderstorms over Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Palawan, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.
This week, Badrina said the whole country can expect fair weather in the morning and isolated light to moderate rain showers, especially in the afternoon. (ELLALYN B. DE VERA)