'Betty' weakens, lingers off Batanes
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 11:54 a.m.) — Typhoon Betty (Mawar) weakened as it lingered over the sea east of Batanes, but it would continue to bring heavy rain and gusty winds to parts of the country, state weather bureau PAGASA said Wednesday morning.
Betty was last located 375 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat in Batanes with peak winds of 120 km per hour near the center and gusts of up to 150 kph, according to PAGASA’s bulletin issued past 11 a.m. It was moving northeast at 10 kph.
Only Batanes remained under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2. The cyclone’s strong winds may have minor to moderate impacts on the province.
Meanwhile, the following areas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1:
• Northeastern portion of Isabela (Santa Maria, San Pablo, Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan, Cabagan)
• Apayao
• Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands
Residents of these areas should brace for minimal to minor impacts from strong winds.
What to expect
According to weather forecasters, the following areas may experience up to 100 millimeters of rainfall until Thursday afternoon:
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Abra
• Benguet
This may trigger floods and landslides, especially in areas highly susceptible to these hazards and in areas that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall recently.
The southwest monsoon (habagat) enhanced by Betty will dump heavy rain to parts of Mimaropa and Antique in Western Visayas until Thursday morning.
The enhanced southwest monsoon will also bring occasional to frequent wind gusts over:
• Bicol region
• Western Visayas
• Aurora
• Quezon
• Northern portion of mainland Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands
• Mindoro provinces
• Romblon
• Ilocos region
• Parts of Cordillera Administrative Region that are not under any wind signals
PAGASA said the typhoon may weaken steadily over the next five days due to cooler ocean waters, dry air intrusion, and increasing vertical wind shear. Betty may be downgraded into a severe tropical storm Wednesday evening or early Thursday, and into a tropical storm Friday evening or Saturday morning.
Betty is expected to slowly accelerate until Thursday morning, and may leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility Thursday evening or early Friday.
Forecast position
• May 31, 2023 8:00 PM - 405 km east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes
• June 1, 2023 8:00 AM - 505 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes
• June 1, 2023 8:00 PM - 705 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes (OUTSIDE PAR)
• June 2, 2023 8:00 AM - 910 km northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon (OUTSIDE PAR)
• June 2, 2023 8:00 PM - 1,105 km northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon (OUTSIDE PAR)
- Latest
- Trending
