‘Ruby’ weakens, Metro Manila under Signal #2

MANILA — Typhoon “Ruby” (international name: Hagupit) has slightly weakened as it traversed the Sibuyan Sea, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) from 140 kph and gusts of up to 150 kph from 170 kph Monday morning.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (PAGASA) in its 5 a.m weather bulletin said Metro Manila will feel Ruby’s wrath from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday.

Metro Manila is now under storm signal #2.

PAGASA weather forecaster Glaiza Escullar told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) the areas under Signal No. 3 (winds of 101-185 kilometers per hour expected in at least 18 hours) are the provinces of Burias Island, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Southern Quezon and Lubang Islandin Luzon.

”These areas will have stormy weather. Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas are alerted against flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living along the coast are warned on the occurrence of big waves associated with storm surge which may reach up to 3 meters,” it warned.

PAGASA said that 26 areas in Luzon and Visayas are still under signals no. 2 and no.1.

Areas under Storm Signal No. 2 (Winds of 61-100 kilometers per hour expected in at least 24 hours) are Masbate, Ticao Island, Calamian Grp. of Islands Bulacan, Bataan, Northern Quezon, Rizal, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Metro Manila in Luzon; Semirara Island, Aklan and Capizin Visayas.

”These areas will have stormy weather. Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living along the coast are warned on the occurrence of big waves associated with Storm Surge which may reach up to 2 meters,” it warned.

On the other hand, Public storm warning Signal No. 1 (Winds of 30-60 kph is expected in at least 36 hours) is hoisted over Sorsogon, Polillo Island, Zambales,Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Albay, Pampanga, Catanduanes, Northern Palawan including Cuyo in Luzon; Northern Samar, Iloilo, Antique, Biliran and Bantayan Island in the Visayas.

”These areas will have occasional rains with occasional gusty winds,” it warned.

Meanwhile, Public storm warning signals elsewhere have been lifted.

Escullar said as of 6 a.m. the eye of the typhoon Ruby was located at 70 km northeast of Romblon, Romblon (13.0°N, 122.7°E).

Escullar said the typhoon’s maximum wind strength decreased from 140 kph to 120 kph, while its gustiness was also down from 170 kph to 150 kph.

She also said typhoon Ruby did not make landfall in Sibuyan island in Romblon.

It continues to move west northwest at 10 kph

With maintaining its speed and movement, typhoon Ruby is expected to make its third landfall in Northern Mindoro between 6-8 p.m. on Monday and it will be associated with strong winds, storm surge and moderate to heavy.

The estimated rainfall amount is from 5 – 15 mm per hour (moderate – heavy) within the 450 km diameter of the typhoon.

She added once the typhoon reaches Mindoro, expect gusty winds and rains in Metro Manila by Monday evening as the center of the typhoon nears the metropolis.

”Between 8-10 pm pinaka malpit sentro sa Metro Manila hindi inaasahan track relatively malapit sa Metro Manila,” she explained.

The effects of Ruby and the Northeast Monsoon will cause rough to very rough sea conditions over the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas.

Fisherfolks and those using small sea craft are advised not to venture out over the said seaboards.

The typhoon Ruby is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Thursday morning headed towards the West Philippine sea.

For Monday forecast, PAGASA said Metro Manila, Calabarzon and the provinces of Bulacan, Bataan, Mindoro, Camarines, Marinduque, Romblon, Aklan, Capiz and Biliran Island will experience stormy weather.

The rest of Western Visayas, Central Luzon and of Bicol Region and the provinces of Northern Samar and Northern Palawan will have rains with gusty winds with moderate to rough seas.

The rest of Luzon and Visayas will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms. Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

It added moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over the rest of Luzon and coming from the northeast to northwest over the rest of country with moderate to rough seas.