MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Betty (international name: Mawar) has since weakened into a severe tropical storm on Thursday morning and is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) within the day, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
As of 4 a.m. Thursday, Pagasa said Betty was spotted some 505 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, with a maximum wind speed of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 135 kph.
“Inaasahan natin na lalabas na ng Philippine area of responsibility, itong si [Severe Tropical Storm] Betty sa mga susunod na oras, o maaaring mamayang tanghali o hapon,” said Pagasa weather specialist Benison Estareja.
(We expect Severe Tropical Storm Betty to leave the Philippine area of responsibility in the next few hours, maybe at noontime or in the afternoon.)
Betty, however, will still affect Batanes, where Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still in effect.
“Pero possible na alisin na rin ito paglabas nitong si Betty sa ating PAR (but it is possible that it will be lifted as soon as Betty exits PAR),” said Estareja.
Betty is also expected to weaken further into a tropical storm once it leaves PAR.
Rain and wind due to ‘habagat’
As Betty continues to strengthen the effects of the southwest monsoon — locally known as “habagat” — 100 to 200 millimeters (mm) of rain is expected to accumulate in Oriental Mindoro on Thursday.
Meanwhile, 50 to 100 mm of rain is forecast over Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Abra, Oriental Mindoro, Antique, and the northern portion of Palawan, including Cuyo & Calamian.
The enhanced southwest monsoon may also bring occasional to frequent wind gusts in northern Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, Ilocos region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Northern Samar, and northern portion of Samar.
Pagasa also warned of possible flash floods and landslides in rain-affected areas.
Rough seas alert
Gale warnings are up over several of the country’s seaboards, namely: Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Aurora, northern part of Quezon including, northern and eastern coasts of Polillo Islands; Camarines Norte, northern coast of Camarines Sur, northern and eastern coasts of Catanduanes, eastern coast of Albay, eastern coast of Sorsogon, Occidental Mindoro, northern Palawan including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands