MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Amang — the first tropical cyclone to hit the country this year — is expected to weaken into a low pressure area Monday night, state weather PAGASA said.
The expected downgrade to LPA is due to the effects of northern monsoon or “amihan” and tail end of the cold front, weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said.
“Amang” was spotted 105 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar. Its strength remained unchanged with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 60 kph.
The tropical depression slightly slowed down over the eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar. It is now moving north at 10 kph from the previous 15 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 remained hoisted over:
- Sorsogon
- Masbate including Ticao Island
- Northern Samar
- Eastern Samar
- Samar
- Biliran
- Leyte
Winds from 30 to 60 kph or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours in these areas.
Light to moderate rains will affect Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Northern Samar tonight. But PAGASA warned that residents of these areas may still experience periods of heavy rainfall.
The weather agency also advised fisherfolks and those with small sea vessels not to venture out over the seaboards of northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of central Luzon, southern Luzon and Visayas due to “Amang” and the surge of “amihan.”
“Amang” is forecast to be 150 km east of Virac, Catanduanes by Tuesday afternoon. — Gaea Katreena Cabico