First of six landfalls at 9:15 pm

‘Weakened’ storm  Ruby crossing  Visayas

Typhoon Ruby (international name: Hagupit) made  landfall at the vicinity of Dolores in Eastern Samar at 9:15 p.m. last night bringing strong winds, torrential rains and possible  storm surges that could reach 4.5 meters  as it crosses the Visayas and parts of the Bicol and Southern Tagalog regions.

Ruby is forecast to make landfall in five other places after it hits Eastern Samar: Masbate, Sibuyan Island, Romblon, Tablas Island, and Oriental Mindoro.

The typhoon was expected to start making itself felt in Metro Manila by Sunday afternoon, with its eye or center coming within 110 kilometers of the National Capital Region by late Monday afternoon or evening if it  keeps its present course.

The typhoon is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Tuesday  evening.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Cebu may experience 80-100 kph winds, which could lead to 2-3 meter storm surges. It could be higher depending on the high tide. Storm signal no. 2 remains hoisted in northern Cebu, Bantayan and Camotes islands and Cebu City. The rest of Cebu is under signal no. 1

As of 5 pm, Saturday, Ruby  had maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (down from 185 kph) near the center and gusts of 210 kph (down from 220 kph). It  picked up ground speed between 13 kph to 16 kph.

Pagasa Deputy Director Landrico Dalida Jr. said that even if Ruby lost some wind speed, it is still a very strong typhoon. The Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center of the US Navy is classifying Ruby as a category 4 storm.

Meteorologists are saying that the heavy to intense rains in the 600-diameter expanse of Ruby can cause flashfloods and landslides.

Pagasa raised the possibility of Ruby further weakening because of the continuing surge of a strong northeast monsoon or hanging amihan but advised the public not to let their guard down as the typhoon packed a destructive wallop.

In areas where storm signal No. 3 and 2 were hoisted, residents were alerted to flash floods and landslides. Air and sea travel in the areas are categorized as risky while fishing boats and other small vessels in areas under storm signal No. 1 and higher were advised against venturing out to sea.

Rough to very rough sea conditions are expected off the coasts of Northern Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon, the Visayas as well as the northern and eastern coast of Mindanao.
According to weather specialist Chris Perez, the typhoon’s intensity was affected by the strong amihan triggered by a high pressure area over mainland China. “The amihan’s cold and dry winds are affecting the circulation of the typhoon. A cyclone thrives on warm and moist air,” he said.

Perez added that the typhoon’s change in speed was being dictated by high pressure areas to the northeast and northwest of Ruby. /Inquirer with Associate Editor Bencyrus G. Ellorin