Super Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) has a high chances of hitting the Philippines, including Metro Manila. The latest forecast of the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said that as of 3 p.m. CST, Ruby was 670 miles east-southeast of Manila and moving in the west-northwest direction at 11 mph.

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Ruby is now slightly weaker with winds of more than 165 mph and gusts over 200 mph, which makes it the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Despite the forecast that Ruby could change direction and possibly affect the national capital region, it is still expected to batter regions in the Visayas which were the hardest hit when Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) blasted in November 2013, killing more than 7,300 people and destroying homes, infrastructure and agriculture.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Hawaii of the U.S. military and the Philippine weather bureau are both monitoring Ruby, but their computer models show different tracks due to a low pressure area interacting with the storm.

The U.S. model forecast that the storm could veer south of Manila, while the Philippine model foresees a more southern track, although their tracks are coming closer as Ruby's landfall time comes nearer, according to the Miami Herald.

The two weather agencies agree that Ruby is slowly weakening. The Philippine weather bureau said the winds are now down to 195 kph with gusts of 230 kph, while the U.S. weather bureau said the winds would slow down to 175 kph by Sunday morning.

The Philippine experience with Haiyan has led the national and local governments to prepare earlier. Residents near low-lying areas were forcibly evacuated to safer grounds and government centers, while people stockpiled on grocery items. Some also strengthened their homes. Relief organizations have also sent packages of relief goods ahead of time.

TagsSuper Typhoon, ruby, hagupit, haiyan, yolanda