Ruby keeps strength, next landfall Monday morning

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MANILA, Philippines – State weather bureau PAGASA said Typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit) will make its 3rd landfall over Sibuyan Island on Monday morning, December 8, instead of Sunday evening, December 7. 

As of 4 pm Sunday, PAGASA said Ruby maintained its strength, with the eye of the typhoon located in the vicinity of Aroroy, Masbate or about 20 km west of Masbate City.

It packs maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 170 km/h.

Ruby first hit land at Dolores, Eastern Samar on Saturday night, December 6, and made its second landfall in Cataingan, Masbate on Sunday morning.

It is expected to hit Sibuyan Island in Romblon on Monday morning, between 2 am and 4 am. The typhoon will bring strong winds, storm surge and heavy to torrential rainfall.

It is now moving west northwest at 10 km/h, with heavy to torrential rainfall (10 to 30 mm/h) expected within its 500-km diameter.

PAGASA raised public storm warning signal number 3 (with winds between 101-185 km/h expected in at least 18 hours) over 6 areas:

• Masbate
• Ticao Island
• Burias Island
• Marinduque
• Romblon
• Oriental Mindoro 

Storm Signal Number 2 has been raised over 16 areas, which can expect winds between 61 to 100 km/h in at least 24 hours:

• Sorsogon
• Albay
• Cavite
• Laguna
• Batangas
• Lubang Island
• Quezon
• Occidental Mindoro
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Northern Cebu including Cebu City, Bantayan Island and Camotes Island.

PAGASA also raised Signal Number 1 (with winds between 30 to 60 km/h expected in at least 36 hours) over 18 areas:

• Zambales
• Bataan
• Nueva Ecija
• Tarlac
• Pampanga
• Bulacan
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• Catanduanes
• Northern Palawan
• Iloilo
• Antique
• Guimaras
• Negros Occidental
• Negros Oriental
• Eastern Samar
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Rest of Cebu

PAGASA warned residents in low-lying and mountainous areas against flashfloods and landslides. Coastal areas under signal number 3 are warned against big waves associated with storm surges which may reach up to 3 meters.

Ruby is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Thursday morning, December 11.

“Ruby and the Northeast Monsoon will cause rough to very rough sea conditions over the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas and over the northern seaboard of Mindanao,” the bureau said.

The next bulletin on Typhoon Ruby will be released at 11 pm Sunday. – Rappler.com

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