Ruby to hit land in Dolores, E. Samar Saturday evening

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MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit) is expected to make landfall in Dolores, Eastern Samar, between 8 and 10 pm Saturday December 6, state weather bureau PAGASA said. 

PAGASA also warned areas in Bicol to prepare for the typhoon’s Saturday evening landfall. 

As of 4 pm Saturday, the eye of the typhoon was located at 100 km east of Dolores, Eastern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center, and gustiness of up to 210 km/h.

The typhoon will be associated with strong winds and storm surges of up to 4.5 meters as it makes landfall, PAGASA said.

Ruby is moving west in direction at 16 km/h, with heavy to torrential rainfall (10 to 30 mm/h) expected within its 600-km diameter.

In a press briefing, PAGASA said that, after hitting land in Eastern Samar, Ruby is also expected to make landfall in 5 other areas until Monday, December 8:

• Masbate – between 8 and 10 am, December 7
• Sibuyan Island – between 2 and 4 pm, December 7
• Romblon Island –  between 5 and 7 pm, December 7
• Tablas Island – between 8 and 10 pm, December 7
• Oriental Mindoro – between 5 and 7 am, December 8

Japan Meteorological Agency labeled Ruby as “very strong.” 

PAGASA has hoisted Signal Number 3 – with winds between 101-185 km/h in at least 18 hours – over 9 areas:

• Catanduanes
• Albay, including Burias Island
• Sorsogon
• Masbate
• Ticao Island
• Northern Samar
• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran

Storm Signal Number 2 has been raised over 8 areas, which can expect winds between 61 to 100 km/h in at least 24 hours:

• Camarines Sur
• Romblon
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Northern Cebu including Cebu City
• Bantayan Island
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte.

PAGASA also raised Signal Number 1 (with winds between 30 to 60 km/h in at least 36 hours) over 14 areas:

• Southern Quezon
• Camarines Norte
• Batangas
• Marinduque
• Oriental Mindoro
• Occidental Mindoro
• Antique
• Iloilo
• Guimaras
• Northern Negros
• Rest of Cebu
• Bohol
• Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island
• Dinagat Province

PAGASA warned residents in low lying and mountainous areas against flashfloods and landslides.

Ruby is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Tuesday evening, December 9.

“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.

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