Ruby continues to weaken as it approaches land; Signal No. 3 up in 9 areas

MANILA, Philippines-Typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit) has continued to weaken as it gets closer to make landfall, the weather bureau said Saturday evening.
In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Typhoon “Ruby” now has maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (down from 185 kph) near the center and gusts of 210 kph (down from 220 kph).
As of 4 p.m. Saturday, the typhoon was located at 100 km East of Dolores, Eastern Samar or at 195 km East of Catarman, Northern Samar.
“Ruby” is forecast to travel west at a pace of 16 kph and would make landfall at the vicinity of Dolores late Saturday evening and would bring strong winds, a storm surge that could reach 4.5 meters and torrential rains.

The estimated amount of rainfall within the 600-km diameter of the typhoon is heavy to torrential at 10 mm to 30 mm per hour.
With the large-scale effect of “Ruby” areas in both Luzon and Visayas are placed under public storm warning signal no. 3.

Catanduanes, Albay including Burias Island, Sorsogon, Masbate, Ticao Island, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran are all placed under public storm warning signal no. 3.

Camarines Sur, Romblon, Aklan, Capiz, Northern Cebu including Cebu City, Bantayan Island, Leyte and Southern Leyte are under public storm warning signal no. 2.
Areas under public storm warning signal no. 1 are 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 and Dinagat Province.

According to weather specialist Chris Perez, the typhoon’s intensity was affected by the strong “amihan” or northeast monsoon triggered by a high pressure area over mainland China. “The amihan’s cold and dry winds are affecting the circulation of the typhoon. A cyclone thrives on warm and moist air,” he said.

Perez added that the typhoon’s change in speed was being dictated by high pressure areas to the northeast and northwest of Ruby.

The forecaster said that if Ruby maintained its present track, the eye of the typhoon would be nearest by 110 kilometers to Metro Manila on Monday afternoon or evening.

“Its effects would be felt as early as Sunday in Metro Manila because of the typhoon’s outer rain bands,” Perez said, adding that it would start with occasional rains, winds slightly picking up and then moderate to heavy rains when the eye of the typhoon draws nearer.

He said that public storm warning signals might be hoisted over Metro Manila by then.

Perez added that if Ruby changes its track, it might slightly move north or south, deviating from its path by 100 kilometers from its earlier projected movement.

Pagasa said that “Ruby” is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday evening.

National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council executive director Alexander Pama said that the agency has mobilized the entire Armed Forces to provide the “muscle” in responding to the typhoon.

Pama explained that the mobilization of the AFP for the typhoon response operations would primarily ensure that logistics get to where they are needed and that order is maintained.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang assured the public that the first flights out of the airbases in Villamor and Clark would be two C-130s of relief goods and services for Borongan, Eastern Samar, as soon as Ruby heads out of the country.

Catapang said that a rapid assessment of the aftermath as well as the deployment of more personnel will be conducted as soon as the planes reach Eastern Samar.

Should a state of national calamity be declared, a multinational coordinating center will be set up at the General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo to ensure that there is an orderly and systematic gathering of aid for typhoon victims.

The AFP chief called on businessmen in areas on the typhoon’s path to keep their stores, particularly those selling basic goods and medicine, open.

“No looting will happen,” Catapang said, adding, “We will secure business establishments so goods and services can move around.”

“Relief goods will be coming as soon as the weather permits so there is no need for looting,” he said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development has set up a food repackaging hub in Cebu.

Originally posted at 6:36 pm | Saturday, December 6, 2014

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