#RubyPH slows down, intensifies slightly

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) has intensified slightly overnight as it slowly moves closer to Eastern Visayas, prompting storm warnings to be hoisted over more areas Friday, December 5.

Ruby, located 485 kilometers east of Borongan, Eastern Samar as of 5 am Friday, currently has maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 250 km/h, state weather bureau PAGASA said in its 5 am bulletin.

Heavy to intense rainfall (7.5-20 mm/h) is expected within the typhoon’s 700 km diameter, the bureau said.

The storm, labeled a super typhoon by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, has been classified by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) as “violent.”

Public storm warning signal number 2, where winds between 61-100 km/h can be expected with 24 hours, has been raised over these areas:

• Sorsogon
• Ticao Island
• Masbate
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Northern Cebu
• Cebu City
• Bantayan Island 
• Camotes Island 
• Surigao del Sur
• Agusan del Norte
• Surigao del Norte
• Dinagat Island
• Siargao Island

Signal number 1, where winds between 30-60 km/h can be expected within 36 hours has been raised over these areas:

• Catanduanes
• Albay
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Burias Island
• Romblon 
• Capiz
• Iloilo
• Negros Oriental
• Negros Occidental
• Rest of Cebu
• Siquijor
• Bohol
• Misamis Oriental
• Agusan del Sur
• Camiguin Island

The typhoon has slowed down slightly, now moving at a pace of 13 km/h, and is still forecast to move west northwest, the bureau said.

With this, it is forecast to be 230 km east of Borongan, Eastern Samar by Saturday morning, December 6, and will move closer to Northern Samar by Sunday morning, December 7.

PAGASA is still forecasting landfall over Samar island over the weekend.

Ruby and the northeast monsoon are expected to bring “rough to very rough” seas in northern Luzon, eastern coasts of Central and Southern Luzon, the Visayas, and northern and eastern Mindanao.

“Fisherfolks and those using small seacraft are advised not to venture out over the said seaboards. Moreover, those living near coastal areas are alerted against possible storm surges,” the bulletin said.

With Ruby approaching, stormy weather can be expected in Eastern Visayas, Caraga, Sorsogon, Masbate, and northern Cebu within 24 hours, the bureau said in its regular forecast, also issued 5 am.

The rest of the Visayas, Bicol, and the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, and Romblon will experience rain with gusty winds, the bureau said.

Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, and Ilocos regions will have cloudy skies accompanied by light rain, while the rest of the archipelago, including Metropolitan Manila, will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain.

The next bulletin on Ruby will be issued at 11 am. – Rappler.com