Ruby slightly weakens, to make 2nd landfall Sunday midmorning at Masbate

Satellite Image-04:32 PM–December 7, Saturday. SCREENGRAB from noah.dost.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines―Typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit) has slightly weakened, now packing maximum sustained winds at 160 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center from 175 kph and gusts of up to 195 kph from 210 kph, the state weather bureau said Sunday morning.

According to the 5 a.m. weather bulletin issued by Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the center of Ruby was last seen at 40 kilometers northwest of Catbalogan City, Samar province.

The typhoon is moving at 15 kph in a west northwest direction. At its current pace, Ruby is expected to make landfall at Masbate province at 10 a.m.

Pagasa weather forecaster Fernando Cada cautioned that although Ruby has weakened, it still poses grave threat to residents in affected areas.

Public storm signal number three (with winds of 101-185 kph expected in at least 18 hours) was raised over the following areas: Romblon, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon and Masbate (including Burias and Ticao Island), Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, and Biliran.

Signal number two (winds of 61-100 kph is expected in at least 24 hours) Batangas, Laguna, Camarines Norte, Southern Quezon, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Northern Antique, Aklan, Semirara Group of Islands, Capiz, Northern Iloilo, Northern Cebu (including Cebu City, Bantayan and Camotes Islands), and Southern Leyte.
Meanwhile, signal number one (1) was raised over the following areas: Metro Manila, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rest of Quezon, Rizal, Cavite, Bataan, Lubang Island, Calamian Group of Islands, Cuyo Island, rest of Antique, rest of Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, rest of Cebu, Bohol, Surigao del Norte (including Siargao Island), and Dinagat Province.

Ruby is expected to make landfall six times in various parts of the country before it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday morning.

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