Tropical Depression Amang inches across Camarines Sur

MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Amang continued to move “very slowly” over the northern part of Camarines Sur late Wednesday evening, April 12, according to the country’s weather bureau.

In a briefing past 11 pm on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Amang was located in the vicinity of Tinambac, Camarines Sur, near San Miguel Bay. It is slowly moving northwest.

So far, the tropical depression has made landfall thrice:

• Panganiban, Catanduanes – 10 pm, Tuesday, April 11
• Presentacion, Camarines Sur – 1 am, Wednesday, April 12
• Lagonoy, Camarines Sur – 4 pm, Wednesday, April 12

PAGASA expects Amang to keep moving northwest on Thursday, April 13, with Camarines Norte and the northern part of Quezon as its potential next stops.

But the weather bureau said there may still be “considerable changes” in the tropical depression’s track due to its “weak and disorganized nature.” Amang could pass close to or cross the Polillo Islands or mainland southern Quezon.

The tropical depression maintained its strength late Wednesday evening, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

It could weaken into a low pressure area by Thursday “due to the combined effects of land interaction, dry air intrusion, and increasing vertical wind shear.”

Here is PAGASA’s latest rainfall forecast for Amang, with parts of Calabarzon and Central Luzon advised to stay on alert for flash floods and landslides:

Forecast accumulated rainfall for next 24 hours (Wednesday evening, April 12, to Thursday evening, April 13)

Moderate (50-100 millimeters)

• northern and western parts of Quezon
• eastern part of Laguna

Forecast accumulated rainfall for next three days (Wednesday evening, April 12, to Saturday evening, April 15)

Heavy (100-200 mm)

• northern part of Quezon
• southern part of Aurora

Light to moderate (50-100 mm)

• Rizal
• Laguna
• Batangas
• western part of Quezon
• central part of Aurora
• eastern part of Nueva Ecija
• eastern part of Bulacan

Strong winds also persist in the following areas remaining under Signal No. 1 as of 11 pm on Wednesday:

• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Camarines Sur
• Camarines Norte
• eastern part of Laguna (Cavinti, Lumban, Kalayaan, Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Famy, Santa Maria, Mabitac)
• Aurora
• northern and eastern parts of Quezon (Buenavista, Calauag, Infanta, Lopez, Guinayangan, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Mauban, General Nakar, Perez, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, Tagkawayan, San Narciso) including Polillo Islands
• eastern part of Rizal (Tanay, Pililla, Rodriguez, Baras, Antipolo City)
• eastern part of Bulacan (Norzagaray, Doña Remedios Trinidad)
• eastern part of Nueva Ecija (Gabaldon, Bongabon, Laur, General Tinio)

Moderate to rough seas are expected in these seaboards on Thursday:

• western seaboards of Northern Luzon – waves 1.2 to 3.5 meters high
• northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon – waves 1.2 to 2.8 meters high

PAGASA advised small vessels to take precautionary measures or avoid venturing out to sea.

Amang is the Philippines’ first tropical cyclone for 2023. Around 20 tropical cyclones form within or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility every year. – Rappler.com