InterAksyon.comThe online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- Typhoon 'Hagupit' (local name: 'Ruby') is officially this year's strongest storm and could intensify even further before making landfall, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said Friday morning.
Soon after, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas, at a briefing of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said Hagupit had become a 'super typhoon.'
The latest data from PAGASA showed Hagupit bearing winds of 215 kilometers per hour with gusts of up to 250 kph -- as strong as typhoon 'Ompong' (international name: 'Vongfong'), which entered the Philippine area of responsibility in October but did not make landfall.
Hagupit is also slated to be the most powerful storm to hit land this year.
Conflicting forecasts
Unless it changes direction, Hagupit is expected to make landfall over Eastern or Northern Samar then head to Masbate, Romblon and Mindoro, according to PAGASA's forecast.
However, the US' Joint Typhoon Warning Center based in Hawaii forecast a different track, projecting Hagupit to veer north after striking Samar and cutting across the Camarines provinces, Albay, Quezon and Metro Manila.
The Japan Meteorological Agency also saw a different track, one closer to that taken by super typhoon 'Yolanda' last year, striking Eastern Samar first before heading towards Leyte and then again making landfall over Panay Island.
But PAGASA forecaster Jun Galang said it is normal for different weather agencies to come up with different projections because ' wala naman kasing exact science sa pag-forecast ng galaw ng bagyo. Meron tayong tinatawag na (there is no exact science to forecasting a storm's movement. We have what is called 'forecast uncertainty'.'
Earlier, Science Secretary Mario Montes urged local governments and the public to rely on PAGASA data instead of other sources, saying the state weather bureau's information was the most reliable since its sensors and other monitoring equipment are closer to the storm and therefore more accurate.
Posted by Unknown on Thursday, December 4, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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