Typhoon ‘Ruby’ enters PAR, affecting seaboards of PHL

Satellite image courtesy of DOST-PAGASA

MANILA — Typhoon “Ruby”, the 18th tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this year, is affecting most of the seaboards in the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical an Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Thursday.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Buddy Javier said typhoon “Ruby” has entered the PAR around 3 a.m.

As of 6 a.m., the eye of the typhoon was located at 980 km East of Surigao City (9.6˚N, 134.4˚E), packed with maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 25 kph.

He said the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon, of Visayas and Mindanao will experience strong to gale force winds associated with the surge of Northeast Monsoon and Typhoon “Ruby”.

Gale Warning has been issued by PAGASA reminding of rough to very rough sea condition along the said seaboards.

“Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned.

Javier said the typhoon still has two scenarios — one is to make landfall in Eastern Visayas, or it may re-curve and will not hit land.

“Dahil sa Ridge of high pressure area, maaaring maglandfall ang bagyong Ruby. Ang isang scenario kapag nagkaroon ng butas posible pasukin ng bagyong Ruby at maaari itong magrecurve at hindi maglandfall,”Javier explained.

He said due to outer spiral of the typhoon, it will bring cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms over parts of Bicol Region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Davao Region.

Meanwhile, Northeast monsoon continues to affect Northern Luzon.

Cagayan Valley and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will have cloudy skies with light rains while regions of Cordillera and Ilocos will experience partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated light rains.

The rest of the country including Metro Manila will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

In its advisory, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast will prevail over Luzon and Eastern section of Visayas and of Mindanao and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the Northeast to North with slight to moderate seas.