Philippines: Typhoon Hagupit (Ruby)

As of Wednesday, EST, Typhoon Hagupit is located approximately 100 miles west-southwest of Yap, or about 1,090 miles to the southeast of Manila, Philippines. Movement is to the west-northwest at 21 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 115 mph with gusts to 145 mph.

Hagupit is forecast to continue to strengthen over the next 24 hours and will approach super typhoon strength as it continues moving west-northwestward.

After passing between Yap and Palau in the next 12 hours, Hagupit will then near the central Philippines Friday night into Saturday, local time. There remains some uncertainty with the track of the typhoon into the weekend as it may remain on a westward path across the Philippines, or it could make a turn to the north largely missing the Philippines.

The worst case scenario would be a path to the west which would take the typhoon across the central Philippines over the weekend. This would lead to widespread flooding and wind damage along with the threat for mudslides and coastal flooding. A turn to the north would mean some bands of rain and wind along eastern Luzon, but overall impacts would remain minor.

Over the weekend, a weakening trend is expected to take place, though it will still be a dangerous typhoon.

Elsewhere, tropical development is not expected across the western Pacific over the next few days.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/hurricane/west-pacific