Super Typhoon Ruby Update: Storm Signal warnings 1-2 issued in 34 areas as of Dec. 5

Typhoon Ruby has intensified further inside PAR and is now a classified as super typhoon by the Philippine weather bureau. As of December, 5 (early morning), supertyphoon Ruby (with international codename Hagupit) was located based on available satellite data at 500 kilometers east of Borongan, Eastern Samar (4AM). It packs maximum sustained winds of 215 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 250kph, according to the state weather agency PAGASA in its latest weather bulletin.

Super Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), based on PAGASA's latest data satellite image as of December 5, 2014.

PAGASA forecaster Manny Mendoza, in today's early morning radio interview, cited the agency's data, forecasting Ruby to make a landfall in Borongan, Samar possibly by morning of Sunday, December 7th.

PAGASA forecasts it to move west-northwest at 13kph and is expected to be at 230 kilometers east of Borongan, Eastern Samar by morning of Saturday, December 6th.

By Sunday morning, Ruby is expected to be at 85 kilometers southeast of Catarman, in Northern Samar and in the vicinity of Romblon, Romblon by Monday morning.

Storm Signal Warnings 1-2 Issued in at least 34 areas in Visayas

As of December 5, 18 areas are placed under Storm Signal No. 2, including Sorsogon, Ticao Island, 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.

Signal No. 1 is issued on the same date, in 16 areas including 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.

According to PAGASA, heavy to intense rainfall (approximately 7.5 to 20 mm per hour) is expected to prevail in areas within the typhoon's 700-km diameter. The typhoon will also bring rough to very rough sea conditions over the seaboards of Visayas, eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, seaboards of Northern Luzon, and over the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

In line with this, PAGASA advised all fisherfolks and those using small seacrafts not to venture out over the said seaboards. Those living near coastal areas are also being alerted on the possibility of storm surges.

Storm Surge Advisories from PAGASA as of December 5

So far, three areas are placed under Storm Surge Advisory 3. These are the areas of Talalora, Samar (2.72 to 3.72 meters), Babatngon, Leyte (2.71 to 3.71 meters) and Sta. Rita, Samar (2.70 to 3.70 meters).

Eleven (11) areas are under Storm Surge Advisory 2. These are the areas of:

• Barugo, Leyte at 2.23 to 3.23 meters
• San Miguel, Leyte at 2.23 to 3.23 meters
• Caibiran, Biliran at 2.17 to 3.17 meters
• Cabucgayan, Biliran at 2.17 to 3.17 meters
• Culaba, Biliran at 2.16 to 3.16 meters
• San Remigio, Cebu at 2.09 to 3.09 meters
• Medellin, Cebu at 2.09 to 3.09 meters
• Tarangnan, Samar at 2.00 to 3.00 meters
• Catbalogan , Samar at 2.00 to 3.00 meters
• Gandara, Samar at 2.00 to 3.00 meters
• Sta. Margarita, Samar at 2.00 to 3.00 meters

Twenty-eight (28) areas are under Storm Surge Advisory 1, including the following:

• Uson, Masbate, 1.99 to 2.99 meters
• Mobo, Masbate, 1.99 to 2.99 meters
• Sta. Fe, Cebu, 1.96 to 2.96 meters
• Bantayan, Cebu, 1.94 to 2.94 meters
• Tabuelan, Cebu, 1.90 to 2.90 meters
• Daram, Samar, 1.82 to 2.82 meters
• Carigara, Leyte, 1.78 to 2.78 meters
• Esperanza, Masbate, 1.72 to 2.72 meters
• Pio V. Cruz, Masbate, 1.72 to 2.72 meters
• Tuburan, Cebu, 1.71 to 2.71 meters
• San Dionisio, Iloilo, 1.70 to 2.70 meters
• Batad, Iioilo, 1.70 to 2.70 meters
• Estancia, Iloilo, 1.69 to 2.69 meters
• Leyte, Leyte, 1.66 to 2.66 meters
• Kawayan, Biliran, 1.63 to 2.63 meters
• Maripipi, Biliran, 1.63 to 2.63 meters
• Dimasalang, Masbate, 1.61 to 2.61 meters
• Almeria, Biliran, 1.61 to 2.61
• Batuan, Masbate, 1.59 to 2.59 meters
• Carles, Iioilo, 1.57 to 2.57 meters
• Cawayan, Masbate, 1.56 to 2.56 meters
• Daanbantayan, Cebu, 1.53 to 2.53 meters
• Capoocan, Leyte, 1.52 to 2.52 meters
• Madridejos, Cebu, 1.52 to 2.52 meters
• Palanas, Masbate, 1.51 to 2.51 meters
• Sagay, Negros Occidental, 1.51 to 2.51 meters
• Placer, Masbate, 1.51 to 2.51 meters
• Merida, Leyte, 1.50 to 2.50 meters

Based on the hourly update of PAGASA's severe weather bulletin, super typhoon Ruby is already at 435km East of Borongan, Eastern Samar (11.8°N, 129.4°E) as of 10:00 AM of December 5, 2014.

Residents and visitors along Visayas, Northeastern Mindanao and Southern Luzon are advised to closely monitor the development of super typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

Source: GMA News, PAGASA

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Typhoon Hagupit has entered PAR, DepEd suspends more classes in Visayas

"As of 4AM today (Thursday), the eye of typhoon Hagupit, now localled codenamed Ruby, was located based on all available satellite data at 942 kilometers East Northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur or 1, 023 kilometers East of Surigao City. It carries maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It is expected to move West Northwest at 25kph. Northeast moonsoon affecting Northern Luzon." -- This is the latest update from PAGASA's daily weather advisory (weather bulletin) issued at 5:00AM (Thursday), December 4, 2014.

Latest position of typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) as of 4AM Thursday, December 4, based on available satellite data by PAGASA.

According to the state weather agency, typhoon Ruby has intensified as it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility at 3:00 AM today. It is expected to make a landfall over Eastern Visayas by Saturday morning, December 6th, said PAGASA forecaster Jun Galang in a radio interview early morning today. Galang added that Ruby is likely to stay within the PAR until Tuesday (December 9th) of next week.

In line with the presence of the new super typhoon in PAR, DepEd has ordered suspension of classes in at least two areas in Easter Visayas. The directive is given in anticipation of bad weather conditions caused by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit).

Here are the list of areas and schools where classes are suspended by DepEd amid threat of super typhoon Ruby:

1. Samar: Catbalogan - all levels suspended, December 4 and 5
2. Tacloban City - all levels suspended, December 4 and 5
3. Visayas State University - classes suspended from December 4 to 5
4. Leyte - all levels suspended, December 4
5. Southern Leyte - all levels suspended, from December 4 (noon) to December 5

Meanwhile, many schools and LGUs in Biliran had already ordered suspension of classes for December 4 and 5, due to typhoon Ruby.

Classes at the University of the Philippines Visayas in Tacloban are also suspended from December 4 until December 9. Regular classes will resume on the 11th of December.

More schools have also suspended classes since the official directive was released by DepEd at around 8:00 o'clock this morning.

All residents in the affected areas are advised to be prepared and stay vigilant, as the super typhoon approaches and is soon to make a landfall this weekend. Those living in coastal areas are also warned of storm surge of up to 4 meters high.

Source: GMA News

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PH Weather Update: Typhoon Hagupit (Ruby) to possibly make a direct hit on Philippine landmass

The country is now facing yet another catastrophic danger as anew strong typhoon Hagupit is closely approaching the Philippine Area of Responsibility. Here's the latest update from PAGASA on typhoon Hagupit, issued on Wednesday, December 3, 2014.

Initial track of Typhoon Hagupit

PAGASA continues to keep track of Typhoon Hagupit (codenamed Ruby), as it moves closer to the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). Hagupit is so far deemed the strongest cyclone to hit the country this year.

According to the state weather bureau in its latest statement during a press conference at the National Disaster Risk Reduction (NDRRMC) held at 4PM of December 3 (Wednesday), the chances of typhoon Hagupit to make a direct hit on Philippine landmass increase to 75 percent. It is expected to make a landfall this weekend in the Visayas region.

Based on satellite data, typhoon Hagupit was located at 1, 278 km east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, as of 4pm Wednesday. It will move west northwest at a speed of 30 kph.

PAGASA forecasts it to enter PAR by Thursday (December 4) with 160 kph winds and gustiness of up to 195 kph. It is expected to cross the Visayas regions by Sunday, December 7, affecting the provinces of Samar, Leyte, northern part of Cebu, southern part of Bicol and northern part of Panay.

If it moves northwards, then it will hit Quezon areas, Bicol and Samar.

According to PAGASA, the presence of a low pressure area (LPA) in the northern part of the country could pull the approaching strong typhoon away from the Philippine landmass but then again, PAGASA said it may be too weak to make this happen.

Earlier projections of typhoon Hagupit saying it's recurving north had gone down to 25 percent from 40 percent. This means it's more likely to hit more lands in the country.

A detailed typhoon track will be announced by PAGASA 48 hours before it makes a landfall.

The Philippine weather bureau is now urging the public to get ready as early as now. Although, it says Hagupit is not that strong as Yolanda, the fact that it carries up to 195 kph winds makes it already very strong. Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which struck the country last year had maximum sustained winds of up to 220 kph.

Maximum red alert has already been issued by NDRRMC on Wednesday.

Keep posted more updates on typhoon Hagupit to be published anytime soon in this site.


Source: PAGASA

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Typhoon Ompong Update as of October 9, 2014: Moving slower yet intense

The latest weather advisory issued by PAGASA at 5:00AM, October 9, 2014, the eye of typhoon Ompong (Vongfong) was located based on all available data at 940 km East of Southeast of Calayan, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 215kph and gustiness of up to 250kph.

PAGASA forecasts to move North Northwest at 9kph.

While the Philippine bureau said Ompong is too far to affect any part of the country, heavy rainfalls are expected to prevail in several regions, across Visayas and Mindanao due to the presence of Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ.

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Latest Weather Update October 8th: Typhoon Ompong(Vongfong)

PAGASA, in its latest weather advisory issued at 10:30AM of Wednesday, October 8, 2014, said Typhoon Ompong has maintained its strength as it moves west northwest over the Philippines Sea.

Based on satellite data, the eye of Typhoon Ompong was located at 1,080 km East of Tuguegarao City as of 10:00AM, Wednesday. It has maximum sustained windes of 215 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 255 kph. It is forecasted to slowly move West Northwest at 9kph.

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President Aquino declares October 6th a Regular Holiday Nationwide

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has officially declared October 6, 2014 as Regular Holiday across the country, in observance of Eid'l Adha, otherwise known as the "Feast of Sacrifice.

The official announcement was made by Malacanang on September 12, 2014, Tuesday, after the President has signed Proclamation No.875, according to Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

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Current LPA makes a landfall in Aurora, anew stronger LPA spotted

PAGASA continues to warn the public of heavy rains affecting many areas of the country, especially in Luzon today.

Satellite image of new approaching LPA, by PAGASA

According to PAGASA in today's weather bulletin issued at 4:00AM, Thursday (Sept. 4th), the LPA has already made a landfall in the vicinity of Casiguran, Aurora. The weather agency however clarified that not only Luzon will experience heavy rains today but also forecasted rainfalls to prevail in Visayas and Mindanao due to local thunderstorms.

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