Betty maintains strength; wind signals still raised in 9 Northern Luzon provinces

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Betty (international name: Mawar) maintained its strength as it slowly moved west-northwestward over the waters east of Basco in Batanes, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Tuesday.

According to Pagasa’s 11 a.m. weather bulletin, Betty was last spotted 315 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes, and was moving west-northwestward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), carrying sustained winds of 150 kph and gusts of up to 185 kph.

“Ngayon hanggang bukas, aasahan nating babagal ang pagkilos habang nasa dagat malapit sa Taiwan, Batanes area pag napanatali ang direksyon nito posibleng sa Thursday o Friday ay lalabas na ng Philippine area of Responsibility (PAR) si Betty,” weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said in a press briefing.

(From today until tomorrow, Betty is expected to decelerate further while moving over the waters near Taiwan and Batanes area. If the typhoon continues traversing this direction, Betty may exit PAR by Thursday or Friday.)

He added that Betty would likely weaken due to cooler ocean waters, dry air intrusion, and increasing vertical wind shear from the middle latitude.

Aurelio further noted that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 remains hoisted in Batanes and northeastern Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, while TCWS No. 1 is still raised in Mainland Cagayan, the northern and eastern portion of Isabela, Apayao, the northeastern portion of Abra, the northern portion of Kalinga, the eastern portion of Ilocos Norte, and Northern Aurora.

Based on Pagasa’s heavy rainfall outlook, the effects of Betty would be felt until Friday (June 2) in the following areas: Occidental Mindoro, Antique, and the northern portion of Palawan (50 to 100 millimeters). Flash floods and rain-induced landslides are possible within the mentioned areas.

Meanwhile, the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” would likely affect the Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Aurora, Quezon, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Northern Samar, and the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region and Ilocos Norte that are not under any wind signal in the next 24 hours, based on Pagasa’s 5 a.m. weather bulletin.

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je/abc