Typhoon Betty keeps strength as it slows down
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:15 p.m.) — Typhoon Betty (Mawar) continued to slow down while moving over the waters east of Cagayan, state weather bureau PAGASA said Monday afternoon.
In a bulletin issued at 5 p.m., PAGASA said Betty was last located 445 kilometers east of Calayan in Cagayan. The typhoon maintained its peak winds of 155 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 190 kph.
It was moving north northwest at 10 kph. Weather forecasters noted that Betty will move generally northwestward slowly Monday, and may become slow-moving or almost stationary from Tuesday to Wednesday while over the waters east of Batanes.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 remains hoisted over the following areas:
- Batanes
- Northeastern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga) including Babuyan Islands
Minor to moderate impacts caused by gale-force winds are likely in areas under Signal No. 2. Rice and corn crops may be adversely affected.
Meanwhile, the following areas are under Signal No. 1:
- Rest of mainland Cagayan
- Isabela
- Apayao
- Ilocos Norte
- Abra
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Ifugao
- Northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler)
- Quirino
- Northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Solano, Bagabag, Diadi, Villaverde, Bayombong, Ambaguio)
- Northern portion of Catanduanes (Caramoran, Viga, Gigmoto, Panganiban, Bagamanoc, Pandan)
- Northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, Tinambac, Siruma)
- Pollilo Islands
- Northern portion of Camarines Norte (Vinzons, Paracale, Jose Panganiban, Capalonga, Talisay, Daet, Mercedes, Basud)
- Northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur (Gregorio del Pilar, Magsingal, San Esteban, Banayoyo, Cervantes, Burgos, Santiago, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Lidlidda, Nagbukel, Sinait, Sigay, San Ildefonso, Galimuyod, Quirino, City of Vigan, San Emilio, Cabugao, Caoayan, San Juan, Santa, Bantay, Santo Domingo, Santa Maria, Narvacan, Salcedo, City of Candon)
Strong winds from Betty may result in minimal to minor impacts in areas under Signal No. 1. Rice crops, however, may suffer significant damage when they are in the flowering stage.
“Even though the center of Betty is still far, our countrymen, especially in Northern Luzon, should prepare,” said Chris Perez, chief of PAGASA Assistant Weather Services.
Preparedness and response protocols were already activated in all areas that will be affected by Betty, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
What to expect
PAGASA said Batanes, the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, the northern portion of Ilocos Sur, the northern portion of Apayao, and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan may experience up to 100 millimeters of rainfall until Tuesday afternoon.
The typhoon may dump up to 200mm of rain in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra, Benguet, Batanes and eastern portion of Babuyan Islands, and up to 100mm of rain in the rest of Babuyan Islands, Apayao, and northern portion of mainland Cagayan from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon.
PAGASA warned that flooding and landslides are likely under these conditions, especially in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards and in areas that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall recently.
The country’s second cyclone of the year is forecast to enhance the southwest monsoon in the next three days, according to PAGASA. Occasional to monsoon rains are expected in the western portions of Southern Luzon and Visayas.
Occasional gusts are also possible in parts of the eastern portion of Central Luzon, eastern and southern portions of Southern Luzon that are not under any Wind Signal, and most of Visayas in the next 24 hours.
Betty and the southwest monsoon will also trigger rough to very rough seas in the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon, in the southern seaboard of Southern Luzon, in the western seaboard of Visayas, and in the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao.
'Betty' to weaken
“This typhoon is forecast to steadily weaken over the next five days due to cooler ocean waters (caused by upwelling of cooler waters in its wake) and dry air intrusion,” PAGASA said.
Betty may be downgraded into a severe tropical storm late Thursday or early Friday, and into a tropical storm late Friday or early Saturday.
The cyclone may leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility Friday.
Betty was the first super typhoon to enter PAR this year. Before threatening the country, the cyclone tore through Guam, a territory of the United States in the Pacific.
Forecast position
- May 30, 2023 2:00 AM - 330 km east of Basco, Batanes
- May 30, 2023 2:00 PM - 275 km east of Itbayat, Batanes
- May 31, 2023 2:00 AM - 240 km east of Itbayat, Batanes
- May 31, 2023 2:00 PM - 240 km east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes
- Jun 01, 2023 2:00 AM - 295 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes
- Jun 01, 2023 2:00 PM - 410 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes
- Jun 02, 2023 2:00 PM - 675 km north northeast of Itbayat, Batanes (outside PAR)
- Jun 03, 2023 2:00 PM - 890 km northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon (outside PAR)
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