December 10, 2014 — Tropical depression “Ruby” has intensified into a tropical storm as it exits the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday.
In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said that Ruby gained strength as it traverses the West Philippine Sea but will not affect the country except the seaboards of Luzon.
He said as of 4 a.m. “Ruby” was estimated based on all available data at 370 km west of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro (13.7°N, 117.8°E) packed with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph. It is forecast to move west at 20 kph.
If it maintains its speed and movement, Aurelio said “Ruby” is expected to exit PAR by early Thursday morning headed towards Vietnam.
He added that weather in most parts of Luzon including Metro Manila on Wednesday gradually improves.
Except in Northern Luzon, most parts of the country including Metro Manila will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms, Aurelio said.
He said due to the northeast monsoon, the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos will experience cloudy skies with light rains.
Meanwhile, Aurelio said the state weather bureau continues to monitor another weather disturbance in the Pacific Ocean outside the PAR which is expected to enter the country by Thursday.
According to Aurelio, the low pressure area has high chance to develop into tropical cyclone.
He said once it develop into tropical depression inside the country it will be locally name “Seniang” the 19th tropical cyclone to affect the country this year.
He said based on climatologically, the new weather disturbance will follow the track of Ruby as the agency still continues to monitor.
In its advisory, PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast to east will prevail over Luzon and coming from the northeast to southeast over the rest of country with moderate to rough seas.
It added due to the effects of Tropical storm “Ruby” and the Northeast Monsoon will cause rough to very rough sea conditions over the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon.
“Fishing boats and other small seacrafts are advised not to venture out into the sea while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves,” it warned. - Manila Bulletin