Hagupit Intensifies into a Typhoon; Rain over East Visayas-PAGASA

PAGASA on Wednesday said tropical cyclone Hagupit, which is over the Pacific Ocean, has intensified into a typhoon about 2 am Wednesday.

PAGASA’s forecast said that in the next few hours, they expect the storm to gain strength. The agency also advised residents in Eastern Visayas and Eastern Mindanao to prepare for the typhoon’s effect

Moving west-northwest

As of 4 am Wednesday, PAGASA said Hagupit was 1,670 km east of Mindanao, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gusts of up to 160 kph.

It added that Hagupit was moving west-northwest at 30 kph.

PAGASA earlier predicted Hagupit to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday.

Once it enters PAR, it will be locally named Ruby.

Moreover, the NDRRMC has advised local officials in Eastern Visayas to prepare their constituents for approaching Typhoon Hagupit, report said.

GMA News Online reported that NDRRMC executive director Alexander Pama also advised local disaster management units to coordinate with local governments to monitor coastal areas for storm surges.

PAGASA’s Wednesday’s forecast predicted cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms over the Eastern Visayas.

The Cagayan Valley will be cloudy with light rain; while the Cordillera, Ilocos, and Central Luzon regions will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated light rain due to the northeast monsoon.

In Metro Manila and the rest of the country, it will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Winds will be moderate to strong from the northeast to east over Luzon and the eastern areas of the Visayas. Coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

For the rest of the country, winds will be light to moderate from the northeast, with slight to moderate seas, PAGASA said.

Source: GMA News Online, PAGASA