MANILA - Typhoon Ruby (international name Hagupit) will hammer provinces, cities, and towns in the central Philippines for up to 3 days, according to the latest advisory issued by state weather bureau PAGASA. The Visayas will feel the full brunt of the typhoon, with cyclone-strength winds, intense rainfall, and storm surges hitting its eastern provinces starting Saturday before it makes landfall Saturday night or Sunday morning over the Eastern Samar-Northern Samar area. The typhoon will then make its way across central Visayas before exiting Mindoro and into the West Philippine Sea Monday night. PAGASA, in its advisory issued 11pm Friday, said Ruby has maintained its strength at 195 kilometers per hour maximum sustained winds, which would merit a storm signal number 4 for areas in its direct path 12 hours before it hits them. The typhoon has slowed down and is moving west at 10kph, which would mean a prolonged period of rain, winds, and storm surges in affected communities. PAGASA said Ruby is forecast to be 85 km northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar by Saturday night, 75 km northwest of Masbate City by Sunday night, and 150 km west of Calapan City by Monday night. The Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Watch Center (JTWC), which uses different methods and standards in measuring intensity of tropical cyclones, said Ruby has regained strength and is again a supertyphoon. The JTWC expects Ruby to reach its peak on Saturday with 250 kph 10-minute sustained winds and 305 kph gusts. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center in the Asia-Pacific, also raised Ruby's status again to a "violent typhoon," the highest category. Ruby underwent an eyewall replacement cycle, which caused it to weaken temporarily before regaining strength again after gained a new eyewall, according to US weather forecasters. The JTWC said Ruby will intensify before making landfall in Eastern Visayas in around 24 hours before weakening as it interacts with the landmass.
Although the storm moved further to the north, the areas hit by last year’s super typhoon Yolanda [Haiyan] are still expected to be hit by Ruby. Several provinces in the Yolanda corridor were placed under public storm signal no. 2 while more areas were placed under public storm signal no. 1.