#RubyPH: Typhoon enters PH area of responsibility

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MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Hagupit has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Thursday, December 4, and was given the local codename Ruby, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

As of 4 am, the eye of Ruby was located 942 kilometers east northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, or 1,023 kilometers east of Surigao City, carrying maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 210 km/h.

Ruby is expected to move west northwest at a speed of 25 km/h, the bureau said.

Current PAGASA forecast models see Ruby heading towards the Visayas, with first landfall over Eastern Samar in the coming weekend.

Meanwhile, the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) has labeled Ruby a “super typhoon,” saying it is already carrying winds of 240 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 296 km/h.

The JTWC’s forecast track also differs from the PAGASA track – the JTWC sees the typhoon moving slightly more northwest, and skirting the northeast coast of Bicol.

So far, only the JTWC has classified Ruby a super typhoon. The Japan Meteorological Agency, which is the regional meteorological center for the West Pacific, still classifies it as a typhoon.

Ruby is still too far to affect the country, and no typhoon signals have been raised yet over any area of the country. 

While Ruby is still over the open ocean, PAGASA said Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Davao regions will have cloudy skies Thursday, accompanied by light to moderate rain and thunderstorms.

Aurora, Quezon, and Cagayan Valley will have cloudy skies accompanied by light rain, while the rest of northern Luzon will have partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies.

The rest of the archipelago will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies, the bureau said.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Wednesday, December 3, that it has P4.7 billion on standby from 7 government agencies to use for quick response requirements. 

Rappler has activated its Project Agos alert map in preparation for the typhoon. – Rappler.com

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