By Alec Go
Typhoon “Betty” may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday evening or early Friday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Wednesday, May 31.
As of 4:00 p.m., “Betty” was estimated at 410 kilometers (km) east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 120 km per hour (km/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 km/h.
It is moving northeastward at 15 km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is currently up over Batanes and the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Calayan Is., Babuyan Is., and Camiguin Is.).
“Iyong typhoon, inaasahan siyang hihina at paglabas niya magiging severe tropical storm,” weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said.
“Habang papalabas ng PAR si Bagyong Betty, patuloy pa rin nitong hinahatak ang habagat o pinapalakas ni Betty,” he added.
It may weaken into a tropical storm on Friday evening or Saturday morning, although faster weakening is not ruled out.
Heavy rainfall are expected over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra and Benguet until Thursday morning.
A gale warning is currently in effect over the seaboards of northern Luzon, eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas. – gb
