Tropical Storm Vamco continues to intensify; signals issued to Metro Manila

Tropical Storm Vamco continues to organize itself, and is continuing to intensify in the last few hours.

Vamco is currently located near 14.4 degrees north, 126.6 degrees east, approximately 326 nautical miles east of the Philippines’ capital, Manila. It has a maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 millibars. The storm is currently moving west-northwest at 13 knots (15 mph) and the storm is very broad in size. Vamco is forecast to intensify into a category 1 typhoon before making landfall in Central Luzon in the Philippines. The Philippines’ local agency, PAGASA, has issued warnings in preparation for this storm.

Warnings

Signal #2, which means winds of 61-120 km/h (40-75 mph) may be expected in at least 24 hours, is in effect for:

The central and southern portions of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler, San Luis, Dingalan), the southeastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, Laur, General Tinio, Gapan City, Peñaranda, Gabaldon), the northern and eastern portions of Bulacan (Meycauayan City, Obando, Marilao, Bocaue, Pandi, Bustos, San Rafael, San Ildefonso, San Miguel, Angat, Santa Maria, San Jose del Monte City, Norzagaray, Doña Remedios Trinidad), Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Ticao Island, and Burias Island.

Signal #1, which means winds of 30-60 km/h (15-40mph) may be expected in at least 36 hours, is in effect for:

Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Abra, Ilocos Sur, La Union Pangasinan, the rest of Aurora, the rest of Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, the rest of Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, and the rest of Masbate,
Northern Samar, the northern portion of Samar (Santo Nino, Almagro, Tagapul-An, Tarangnan, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, Gandara, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, San Jose de Buan, Matuguinao), and the northern portion of Eastern Samar (Maslog, Dolores, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad).

Please prepare for this storm, as heavy rainfall is expected due to the storm’s size. Keep updated with your local agencies, and evacuate if said to. Stay tuned for updates.