Tropical Depression "Ambo" is forecast to make landfall in the Bicol region on Thursday.
Aldczar Aurelio, senior weather forecaster from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said Ambo could strengthen into a tropical storm.
The country's first storm for 2020, "Ambo" on Monday slightly intensified while moving slowly westward over the Philippine Sea.
As of 11 a.m. Monday, the center of the tropical depression was estimated at 340 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Norte.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kms per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph, it was moving west slowly.
No tropical cyclone has so far been raised over any part of the country yet, the state weather bureau said Monday.
Chris Perez, a senior weather specialist of PAGASA, said Ambo “is still far from the landmass. It is still offshore within 24 hours. With Ambo's current location, no tropical cyclone wind signal was raised, and areas across the country do not experience (much) rains."
Based on PAGASA's forecast, the trough of Ambo will bring scattered light to moderate with isolated heavy rains during thunderstorms over Mindanao in the next 24 hours.
Further, moderate to rough seas will be experienced on the eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Davao Oriental and Davao Occidental.
"Ambo is expected to be very near the Bicol Region by Thursday. Even before Thursday, areas around the Bicol Region may experience rains," Perez said.
