Deadly Ambo loosens its grip on Philippines
Tropical Depression Ambo, also known as Vongfong, thrashed parts of the northern Philippines with torrential rain and high winds late last week and into the weekend as it made landfall across several areas in the region. The risk for flash flooding will continue for some as the storm begins to move away.
Ambo strengthened throughout the week as it tracked over the warm waters of the Philippine Sea and became the first-named tropical system in the Northern Pacific Ocean of 2020. On Thursday afternoon, the former typhoon had wind speeds around 155 km/h (96 mph), making it equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic and East Pacific basins.
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Satellite shows Ambo, also known as Vongfong, as the destructive storm moves across the northern Philippines Friday afternoon, local time. (Photo/RAMMB) |
The storm was initially given the name Ambo by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) after developing last weekend. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) is also monitoring this system and is using the name Vongfong.
As of Friday afternoon, 13,000 have been forced to leave their homes, according to the Philippine News Agency. A total of 48 towns also suffered power outages across Samar and Biliran.
According to a report from ABS-CBN News, at least four deaths and three injuries have been blamed on the storm as of Saturday night.
The PAGASA issued heavy rainfall warnings and flooding advisories issued across regions of Luzon, including a red warning in Metro Manila on Friday evening. A total of 93 mm (3.66 inches) of rain fell in parts of the city on Friday.
Heavy Rainfall Warning No. 4 #NCR_PRSD
Weather System: Severe Tropical Storm #AMBO
Issued at: 8:00 PM,15 May 2020 pic.twitter.com/xuctG68GM6— PAGASA-DOST (@dost_pagasa) May 15, 2020
On Saturday, Casiguran, a city on the eastern coast of Luzon recorded 284 mm (11.18 inches) of rain. In Infanta, 152 mm (5.98 inches) drenched the city.
In preparation of the storm, towns forecast to be in the path of the typhoon issued evacuations and distribution of relief packages.
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Given the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, evacuees were required to wear face masks and families will practice social distancing in shelters.
Oplan Tambuli at brgy Ambiong, BC, on disaster preparedness against TS "AMBO".#TeamPNP#ToServeAndProtect#PNPKakampiMo pic.twitter.com/TIOVAPYPsg
— PNPBaguioStn6 (@PNPBaguioStn6) May 15, 2020
The New York Times reports that 50,000 people took refuge in evacuation shelters, increasing the concern for further spread of the virus
Towns were not the only ones preparing for the storm. There were reports of at least 20 cruise ships that moved out to sea to avoid bumping into each other while anchored.
WATCH: Typhoon Ambo's wrath is now being felt in Northern Samar. Video taken by PCpl Ronan Lucas, PCADU, Northern Samar Provincial Police Office at 5:55 P.M. at the provincial capitol. | via Tonette Marticio pic.twitter.com/P3KuAyz6Ko
— Manila Bulletin News (@manilabulletin) May 14, 2020
According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Houk, Ambo's path over the island of Luzon helped to weaken the storm into the weekend.
The strength of tropical systems is mainly determined by the strength of the winds. As of Saturday night, PAGASA downgraded Ambo to a tropical depression since sustained winds were around 55 km/h (35 mph).
Widespread damaging winds are no longer expected with this storm.
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Regardless of the strength of the storm, heavy tropical downpours can increase the risk of flooding and mudslides across Luzon into Sunday morning.
"There will be a lot of moisture associated with this system, which will help to create a wide swath of heavy rain across the northern Philippines," said Houk.
As much as 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) is possible across the northern Philippines. The heaviest rain is expected along the northwestern coast of Luzon where onshore flow on the back side of the storm will push tropical moisture into the mountains.
It is in this region that the AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 300 mm (12 inches) is most likely.
As Ambo continues to track to northeast into Sunday, it will bring some rain and gusty thunderstorms to parts of southern Taiwan, but due to continue weakening, the risk to lives and property is expected to be small.
Ambo is forecast to continue to weaken into the beginning of next week as it moves over cooler water, and is absorbed by a nontropical system that will be tracking farther north over Japan.
According to PAGASA, Ambo made its first landfall over San Policarpo, in the province of Eastern Samar, at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, local time.
After barreling through Eastern Samar, the typhoon made five additional landfall across islands in the northern Philippines.
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