By Juzel L. Danganan
MANILA, Dec. 8 (PNA) -– Tropical storm “Ruby” made its fourth landfall in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas at 5:45 p.m. Monday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
”Tropical storm ‘Ruby’ made its 4th landfall in Laiya, Batangas at 5:45 p.m. Monday,” PAGASA weather forecaster Jori Loiz said in a press conference, adding that the strength of “Ruby” further decreased to 85 kilometers per hour (kph) from the earlier 115 kph.
However, he said that gusts can still reach up to 100 kph, as the storm continues to move west-northwest.
At the same time, Lopez said that in the National Capital Region, the Manila Bay is expected to have storm surges of one meter to two meters.
He pointed out that the tropical storm would be closest to the NCR between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Monday.
For its 5 p.m. Monday weather bulletin, PAGASA said there might be an amount of rainfall between 5 and 15 millimeters within the diameter of the tropical storm.
As of 4 p.m. Monday, the center of storm “Ruby” was estimated based on all available data at 15 km southeast of Laiya, Batangas (13.6°N, 121.5°E).
As this developed, Public Storm Warning Signal No. 2 (winds of 61-100 kph expected in at least 24 hours) is hoisted over Metro Manila, Batangas, Cavite, Bataan, Laguna, Southern Quezon, Marinduque and Northern Oriental Mindoro, including Lubang Island.
Moreover, PAGASA raised PSWS #1 (winds of 30 to 60 kph expected in at least 36 hours) over Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bulacan, Rizal, Rest of Quezon, Rest of Mindoro Provinces and Romblon.
The state-run weather bureau projects that storm “Ruby” will be 240 kilometers west of Quezon City by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
On Wednesday, PAGASA estimates it will be 590 km west of Quezon City and 920 km west of Quezon City on Thursday.
If “Ruby” continues to move at its current speed of 13 kph, it may leave the Philippine Area Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday at 7 p.m., according to Loiz.
Earlier, PAGASA projected it would exit the PAR by 7 p.m. on Thursday.
The agency has also issued a gale warning in 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. (PNA)