Naga City Dec 5 2014 - While remaining a serious threat to Eastern Visayas and the Bicol region, Hagupit (local name Ruby) continues to weaken and has been downgraded to Typhoon. The decrease in force is caused by the initial effect of the surge of the cold Northeast Monsoon on the cyclone.
Ruby is still a medium sized typhoon (1,005) km) with sustained winds (10-minute average) of 215 kph near the center and gustiness up to 260 kph but its force is expected to be reduced to gusts of 75-100 kph that will be felt in Eastern Bicol, Eastern Samar and Northern Samar starting Saturday morning (Dec. 6). Forecast movement is westward at 11 kph.
Starting Friday evening, rains will be heavy to extreme (150 mm or more) in the following areas: Samar Provinces, Leyte, Sorsogon, Albay, Masbate, Romblon, northern portions of Capiz and Iloilo, extreme northern part of Negros Occidental, and Northern Cebu.
Possible coastal storm surge flooding of 4-5.5 m (13-18 ft) above normal tide levels...accompanied by large and dangerous battering waves can be expected along the coastal, inland lakes and beach front areas of Eastern Visayas and Eastern Bicol Region beginning Saturday morning onwards. (typhoon2000.com)