PAGASA: 'Hagupit' may intensify into a typhoon, turn into 'Ruby'

MANILA, Philippines - Approaching tropical storm 'Hagupit' (international name) may intensify into a typhoon before entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this week, the state weather bureau said Tuesday.

In a televised press briefing past 3 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Hagupit was last located at 2,325 kilometers east of Mindanao.

The storm was packing with maximum winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of 90 kph. It was forecast to move west northwest at 35 kph.

PAGASA senior weather forecaster Rene Paciente said Hagupit may enter the PAR  before Thursday noon. It will be named 'Ruby.'

Paciente said the storm may make landfall in Eastern Visayas and barrel through the country but it may also recurve toward the southern island of Japan.

Before it makes a possible landfall, Hagupit will have maximum sustained winds of 150 kph to 175 kph. It will dump moderate to intense rains to the areas along its track and may generate storm surges of up to 4 meters.

Coastal waters along the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Northern Mindanao will be rough to very rough which will be dangerous to all sea vessels.

If it recurves toward Southern Japan, Hagupit may bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains over the eastern sections of Southern Luzon and Visayas.

Landrico Dalida Jr., PAGASA's officer-in-charge for operations and services, said Hagupit may not intensify into a super typhoon based on their data so far.