Typhoon ‘Ruby’ continues to gain strength; moves slow as it heads towards E. Visayas

MANILA — Typhoon “Ruby” continues to gain more strength but slightly slowed down as it moves towards west northwest of Eastern Visayas, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday.

PAGASA said that as of 5 a.m., the eye of typhoon “Ruby” was located at 485 km East of Borongan, Eastern Samar (11.5°N, 129.9°E).

PAGASA weather forecaster Shair Nonot told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) that typhoon “Ruby” which is still in the sea, has gained maximum sustained winds from 205 kph to 215 kph, while its gustiness also rose from 240 kph to 250 kph.

She added it continues to move west northwest but decelerates from 15 kph to 13 kph.

With its movement and speed, Nonot said it is expected to make a landfall in Northern or Eastern Samar by Saturday evening or Sunday morning.

Nonot said that 35 areas in the country are under public storm warning signal.

Under Signal No. 2 (61-100 kph winds is expected in at least 24 hrs) were Sorsogon, Ticao Island and Masbate, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Northern Cebu, Cebu City, Bantayan Island, Camotes Island, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Island and Siargao Island.

The potential impacts of the winds under signal no. 2 were the following:

•Moderate damage to agriculture •Rice and corn adversely affected •Few large trees uprooted •Large number of nipa and cogon houses partially or totally unroofed •Some old galvanized iron roofing may roll off •Travel by all types of sea vessels is risky.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 (30-60 kph winds is expected in at least 36 hours) is hoisted over rest of Catanduanes, Albay,Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Burias Island, Romblon, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Rest of Cebu, Siquijor, Bohol, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur and Camiguin Island.

The potential impacts of the winds under signal no.1 were the following:

• Twigs and branches of trees may be broken • Banana plants may tilt or land flat on the ground • Rice in flowering stage may suffer significant damage • Some nipa and cogon houses may be partially unroofed • Sea travel of small seacraft and fishing boats is risky.

The estimated rainfall amount is from 7.5 – 20 mm per hour (heavy – intense) within the 700 km diameter of the typhoon.

It added moderate to heavy rains within 24 to 36 hours are expected over the areas with Public Storm Warning Signals Numbers 2 and 1. Residents in low lying and mountainous areas are advised to be alert against possible flashfloods and landslides. Moreover, those living near coastal areas are alerted against possible storm surges.

The Estimated rainfall amount is from 7.5 – 20 mm per hour (heavy – intense) within the 700 km diameter of the typhoon.

Nonot said due to “Ruby” and the Northeast Monsoon, sea condition will be rough to very rough over the eastern seaboard of Southern Central and Northern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.

“Fisherfolks and those using small seacraft are advised not to venture out over the said seaboards. Moreover, those living near coastal areas are alerted against possible storm surges,” it warned.

Typhoon “Ruby” is forecast to be at 230 km East of Borongan, Eastern Samar by Saturday morning.

By Sunday morning, it is expected to be at 85 km Southeast of Catarman, Northern Samar, and by Monday morning in the vicinity of Romblon, Romblon.

For Friday forecast, PAGASA said Eastern Visayas, Caraga Region, the provinces of Sorsorgon, Masbate and Northern Cebu, including Cebu City and the islands of Bantayan, Camotes and Ticao will experience stormy weather, while the rest of Visayas and Bicol Region and the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Camiguin and Romblon will have rains with gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be rough to very rough.

The regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos will be cloudy with light rains, while Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over the rest of Luzon and Visayas, while the north to northwest of Mindanao will have moderate to rough seas