Several areas in the provinces of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar were put under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Tropical Storm Ambo slightly intensified, a weather specialist said Wednesday.

In its 5 a.m. severe weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “Ambo” was last tracked 410 km. east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar.

It has maximum sustained winds of up to 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph and is heading north-northwest at 15 kph.

PAGASA weather specialist Meno Mendoza said the areas under Signal No. 1 are Jipapad, Maslog, Arteche, San Policarpio, Oras, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Sulat, San Julian, and Borongan City in Eastern Samar and the towns of Lapinig, Gamay, Mapanas, Palapag, Laoang, Catubig, and Las Navas in Northern Samar.

Strong to near-gale force winds will begin affecting these areas on Thursday afternoon.

“Ambo” is expected to further intensify as it approaches the Eastern Visayas – Bicol area. Mendoza said “Ambo” may make landfall over the Bicol region on Friday.

Meanwhile, Eastern Visayas may experience scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rain showers on Wednesday due to the trough of “Ambo”.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers caused by localized thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds will blow over the eastern section of southern Luzon and the Visayas, where coastal waters will be moderate to rough. PAGASA warned that rough seas will be experienced over the eastern seaboard of Bicol and the northern and eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas.

Moderate winds and moderate seas will prevail over the eastern section of Mindanao.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas. (PNA)