Amang Is Here: 2023's First Tropical Cyclone Brings Rains During Dry Season

(SPOT.ph) Parts of Luzon and Visayas will experience rains in the middle of dry season due to Tropical Depression Amang, the first tropical cyclone to enter the Philippines this year, the state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tuesday, April 11. 

Amang developed into a tropical cyclone off Catanduanes at 2 a.m. Tuesday, and was spotted 130 kilometers east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes at 4 p.m. While it is seen to remain over the waters east of Luzon for the next three days, PAGASA has yet to rule out its possible landfall.

It was packing 55 kph winds and up to 70 kph gusts as of 10 a.m. and moving westward at 30 kph, according to PAGASA.

It is seen to head towards Bicol Region in the next 24 hours, with the possibility of weakening into a low-pressure area by Thursday or Friday.

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PAGASA: Signal No. 1 Rains in Several Areas Due to Amang

Signal no. 1, or winds of up to 39 to 61 kph, is up in these areas:

Luzon

• Catanduanes
• Sorsogon
• Albay
• Camarines Sur
• Camarines Norte
• Quezon including Pollilo Islands
• Marinduque
• Masbate including Ticao Island
• Burias Island
• Rizal
• Laguna (San Pablo City, Alaminos, Calauan, Bay, Los Baños, Rizal, Nagcarlan, Victoria, Pila, Liliw, Magdalena, Majayjay, Luisiana, Cavinti, Pagsanjan, Santa Cruz, Lumban, Kalayaan, Paete, Pakil, Pangil, Siniloan, Famy, Santa Maria, Mabitac)
• Aurora
• Bulacan (Norzagaray, Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso)
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Dupax del Norte, Dupax del Sur, Alfonso Castaneda)
• Nueva Ecija (General Tinio, City of Gapan, Peñaranda, San Leonardo, Santa Rosa, Cabanatuan City, Talavera, San Jose City, Carranglan, Pantabangan, Llanera, General Mamerto Natividad, Rizal, Bongabon, Laur, Palayan City, Gabaldon)
• Isabela (Echague, San Agustin, Jones, Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Palanan, Angadanan, Benito Soliven, City of Cauayan)

Visayas

• Northern Samar
• Samar (Calbayog City, Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, Gandara, Santa Margarita, San Jorge)
• Eastern Samar (Jipapad, Maslog, Arteche, Oras, San Policarpo, Dolores)

Amang is forecast to bring intense rains over Northern Samar and the northern portions of Samar and Eastern Samar, and heavy rains over the rest of the Samar provinces this Tuesday.

How El Niño Will Affect Tropical Cyclones

PAGASA recently raised the El Niño Watch, meaning there is around a 55% chance that unusually warm weather will occur.

When it develops, it could result in reduced rainfall conditions. It could also cause tropical cyclones to become erratic, pushing tropical cyclones northward with the possibility of stronger intensities, PAGASA said.

This April, just one tropical cyclone is expected to enter the country. One or two tropical cyclones are expected this May, and another one or two in June this year.

Also read: How to Avoid Heatstroke Now That Dry Season Is Here