Typhoon Ruby: 47 provinces at ‘high risk’

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A total of 47 provinces – home to 66.6 million Filipinos – have been identified by government scientists Friday, December 5, as high-risk areas when Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) hits the country over the weekend.

As of 3 pm, the typhoon was located 380 kilometers east of Borongan, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h near the center, and gusts of up to 230 km/h, state weather bureau PAGASA said in a press conference at their headquarters in Quezon City.

The storm is being affected by the northeast monsoon, which is bringing cooler air from the northern polar regions of Asia, which caused the typhoon to lose some strength, state forecasters said.

Public storm warning signal numbers 2 and 1 has been raised over these areas:

The bureau said they might raise public storm warning signal number 4 once the typhoon hits land, but said it will only be done within 12 hours of the predicted landfall.

Earlier Friday, the US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) has downgraded the system from super typhoon to typhoon. During the 4 pm briefing, PAGASA officials also declared Ruby as below super typhoon status.

Heavy to intense rainfall (7.5-20 mm/h) is expected within the typhoon’s 600 kilometer diameter.

PAGASA listed 47 provinces across the country as “potential high-risk areas.” These are the provinces that are likely to be affected by the typhoon’s 600 kilometer diameter, the bureau explained.

These provinces are home to a total ot 66.6 million Filipinos, based on 2010 census data from the Philippine Statistical Authority. 

At highest risk are the areas where the storm’s eye might potentially pass close.

Ruby is still moving towards the west-northwest at a speed of 13 km/h. PAGASA said landfall is forecast in the area of Eastern Samar and Northern Samar by Saturday evening, December 6, or early Sunday, December 7.

It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday, December 10.

“Ruby and the Northeast Monsoon will bring rough to very rough sea conditions over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon, seaboards of Visayas and over northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao,” the bureau said in its severe weather bulletin.

Metro Manila will likely be affected by Sunday, the bureau said, with the typhoon’s outer periphery affecting the metropolis. The area should expect possible rain and winds, but not as strong as those under storm signals 2 and 3, the bureau added.

The next bulletin will be released at 11 pm. – Rappler.com