Typhoon Hagupit enters PAR, now locally codenamed Ruby

State weather agency PAGASA said Ruby intensified as it entered the PAR at 3 a.m., radio dzBB reported.

 

PAGASA forecaster Jun Galang told dzBB radio their models indicate a chance of Ruby making landfall over Eastern Visayas Saturday morning or afternoon.

 

He added Ruby is likely to linger in the PAR until Tuesday next week.

 

Galang said Ruby's outer spiral band may bring rain to Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Bicol and Davao.

 

As of 4 a.m., Ruby was estimated at 942 km east-northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur or 1,023 km east of Surigao City.

 

It packed maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph, and is forecast to move west-northwest at 25 kph.

 

"Bicol region, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and Davao region will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

 

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

 

PAGASA said Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

 

Meanwhile, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds 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.

 

Galang said storm surges are possible in Eastern Visayas, Bicol and northeast Mindanao.

 

"Ang estimate namin hanggang four meters," he said when asked how high the waves could get.

 

He also said a gale warning is up over the eastern seaboard of the country.

 

"Huwag pumalaot maliit na sasakyang pandagat," he said.  — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News