‘Hagupit’ may intensify into typhoon

MANILA, Philippines—Tropical Storm “Hagupit” is likely to intensify into a typhoon before it enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Thursday.

Rene Paciente, senior weather forecaster for the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, said in a televised press briefing that Hagupit was last observed 2,325 kilometers east of Mindanao.

The storm packed maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of 90 kph. It was forecast to move west northwest at 35 kph.

Hagupit, the international name of the cyclone which is a Filipino word for “whip,” would be locally named “Ruby” when it enters PAR before noon Thursday, Paciente said.

Possible scenarios

One of the two scenarios for Hagupit was that it would landfall in Eastern Visayas. Its strength before landfall would be between 150 and 175 kph.

A storm surge of 3 to 4 meters is also possible, Paciente said.

Moderate to intense rains are seen in areas within the track of Ruby.

Coastal waters along the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Northern Mindanao will be rough to very rough and dangerous to all sea vessels.

The second scenario is that Hagupit will recurve to the north toward southern Japan and will not make landfall.

Moderate to occasionally heavy rains are expected over the eastern sections of Southern Luzon and Visayas.

Coastal waters along the eastern section the eastern seaboard of Luzon and Visayas will be rough to very rough and dangerous to all sea levels.