A rare summertime severe tropical storm (STS) is threatening eastern Philippines as well as the main island where Manila is.
Pagasa, the Philippine weather bureau, advised residents to take precautionary measures against the impacts associated with the weather disturbance, which may include flash floods and landslides.
The storm, the first this year and locally codenamed "Ambo", started as a low-pressure area when it was first spotted east of Surigao province on Sunday. It developed into a tropical depression on Tuesday, slowly moving northwest, and is seen curving to the left towards the main island of Luzon.
It is expected to make landfall in Northern Samar province by around 8am on May 14, Thursday, as it further develops into severe tropical storm likely to hit the eastern provinces of Samar, Sorsoson, Albay and Camarines Sur in the next 48 hours.
Local disaster management councils have declared preparedness as the storm threatens to hit the eastern Philippine towns and cities.
The weather pattern is rare during the peak of the Philippine summer period when temperatures in certain provinces hover between 45 degress to 49 degrees C.
