Storm Amang enters Phl, to bring weekend rains

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Storm Amang entered the Philippine area of responsibility yesterday and is expected to bring rains over the eastern sections of Luzon and the Visayas this weekend.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Amang (international name Mekkhala) is likely to veer away from Eastern Visayas but is still expected to bring rains with moderate to strong winds over Leyte tomorrow.

Pope Francis will lead a mass in Tacloban City and have lunch with survivors of recent calamities in Palo town tomorrow.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Amang was spotted at 765 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, packing winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

It was forecast to move west northwest at 19 kph.

PAGASA said there is a possibility of raising public storm warning signals over Catanduanes, Northern Samar and Camarines Norte in the next six hours.

The regions of Caraga and Eastern Visayas will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rains while the rest of the Visayas and Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains today.

Cagayan Valley will be cloudy with light rains while Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated light rains.

PAGASA said Metro Manila is expected to experience generally good weather until Saturday.

Light to moderate rains, meanwhile, are likely over Tacloban City on Saturday.

PAGASA warned residents of Samar and Leyte against possible flashfloods and landslides.

This morning, the center of Amang is projected to be at 905 km east of Guiuan and at 230 km east of Virac, Catanduanes tomorrow morning.

On Sunday morning, Amang is forecast to be 180 km east of Casiguran, Aurora.

PAGASA acting administrator Vicente Malano said Amang is likely to weaken into a tropical depression while approaching the coast of Eastern Visayas due to the presence of the cold northeast monsoon.

“We don’t expect it to hit landmass,” Malano said in a press briefing.

Malano said Amang would get closer to Samar on Saturday.

Metro Manila would have cloudy skies with chance of light rain on Sunday.

Pope Francis will meet with religious leaders and address the youth at the University of Santo Tomas on the morning of Jan. 18 before proceeding to Rizal Park in Manila for the concluding mass in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, PAGASA advised fisherfolk and those with small seacraft not to venture out to the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon and the Visayas.