Storm expected to form

CEBU, Philippines - A tropical storm is expected to rise in the next 24 to 48 hours as an active low pressure area was spotted at an estimated 310 kilometers east of Borongan, Eastern Samar embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone affecting Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

“Mo-develop gyud ni siya into a tropical storm within the next 24 to 48 hours ug magdala kini ug lapad ug katag nga pag uwan-uwan,” said Alice Canasa, weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

The first tropical storm to enter the country will be named Ambo.

Canasa said that although there is no official advisory from PAGASA, the onset of rainy season in the Visayas usually starts at the end of May or first week of June until September.

PAGASA’s forecasted that Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming cloudy with widespread rains over the eastern section of Visayas and of Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to northwest will prevail over Eastern Luzon and coming from the southwest over Visayas and Mindanao.

The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the northwest to west with slight to moderate seas. (FREEMAN)