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Very dangerous Typhoon “Vongfong” (Ambo) makes landfall over Eastern Samar, Philippines

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Typhoon "Vongfong" — known as Ambo in the Philippines — made landfall over San Policarpo, Eastern Samar at 04:15 UTC (12:15 LT) on May 14, bringing violent winds and heavy to intense rains over the northern portion of Eastern Samar. The northern portion of Samar and the southern portion of Northern Samar will be affected by the eyewall in the coming hours, PAGASA warned at 06:00 UTC. This is the first named storm of the 2020 Pacific typhoon season, the first to strike the Philippines in 2020 and the strongest first named storm to hit the country in more than 30 years.

At 05:00 UTC on May 14, the center of Typhoon "Vongfong" was located in the vicinity of Oras, Eastern Samar. The system had maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h (96 mph) and gusts to 190 km/h (118 mph). This is equivalent to Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Vongfong is moving west at 15 km/h (9 mph).

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Analysis by meteorologist Robert Speta of the WestPacWX

Signal No. 1, 2, and 3 remain in effect in parts of the Visayas and of Luzon.

Heavy to intense rains are expected over Samar Provinces, Masbate, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes on May 14. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are expected over Albay, Camarines Sur, and the rest of Eastern Visayas.

Heavy to intense rains are expected over Bicol Region on May 15. Moderate to heavy with at times intense rains are expected over Northern Samar, Quezon, Aurora, Marinduque, and Romblon.

Residents in these areas are advised to take appropriate measures, coordinate with local disaster risk reduction and management offices, and continue monitoring for updates, especially the local rainfall or thunderstorm advisories and heavy rainfall warnings from PAGASA Regional Services Divisions (PRSD).

Flooding and rain-induced landslides may occur in highly to very highly susceptible areas during heavy or prolonged rainfall.

Coastal Water Conditions and Storm Surge Information:

Within 24 hours, a storm surge of 2 to 4 m (6.5 – 13 feet) may be experienced over the coastal areas of Northern Samar, Eastern Samar (east coast), Samar (west coast), Sorsogon, Albay, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon, and Aurora.

Along with large swells, this storm surge may cause potentially life-threatening coastal inundation.

Sea travel is risky for all types of seacrafts over the seaboards of areas under TCWS.

Typhoon "Vongfong" (Ambo) at 06:50 UTC on May 14, 2020. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, RAMMB/CIRA

Typhoon "Vongfong" (Ambo) at 06:50 UTC on May 14, 2020. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, RAMMB/CIRA

Featured image: Tropical Cyclone "Vongfong" (Ambo) at 06:50 UTC on May 14, 2020. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, RAMMB/CIRA

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