Metro Manila under storm signal by Sunday or Monday – PAGASA

Photo courtesy of admu.edu.ph

MANILA – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Saturday said it expects to place Metro Manila under public storm warning signal on Sunday or Monday as typhoon “Ruby” moves closer to Luzon areas.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Jori Loiz said once typhoon Ruby reaches the areas of Marinduque and Mindoro, the typhoon’s outer spiral will affect Metro Manila.

Loiz expects Signal No. 2 or I will be raised for Metro Manila Sunday evening or Monday, with its residents in low lying and mountainous areas are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Metro Manila is also expected to expwerience occasional rains with occasional gusty winds.

The potential impacts of the winds under signal no.2 included a moderate damage to agriculture; rice and corn adversely affected; few large trees uprooted; large number of nipa and cogon houses partially or totally unroofed; some old galvanized iron roofing may roll off; and travel by all types of sea vessels is risky.

The potential impacts of the winds under signal no.1 included twigs and branches of trees may be broken; banana plants may tilt or land flat on the ground; rice in flowering stage may suffer significant damage; some nipa and cogon houses may be partially unroofed; and sea travel of small seacraft and fishing boats is risky.

Loiz said typhoon Ruby continues its track at 16 kph towards west direction, it is expected to make a landfall in Dolores, Easter Samar by Saturday evening. It would again make a landfall in Sibuyan Island early Sunday morning after making a landfall also in Masbate .

He also said typhoon Ruby was also expected to make another landfall in Romblon and then a landfall in Oriental Mindoro.

Typhoon Ruby is expected to exit Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday evening.