By Alec Go
Tropical cyclone wind signals are hoisted over Cagayan and portions of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) as Typhoon “Betty” maintained its strength on Tuesday morning, May 30.
As of 10:00 a.m., “Betty” was 315 kilometers (km) east of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h and gustiness of 185 km/hr. It is continuing to move west northwestward at 10 km/h.
The following areas are currently under Signal No. 2:
- Batanes
- Babuyan Islands
- Northeastern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga)
The following are under Signal No. 1:
- Apayao
- The rest of mainland Cagayan
- Northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Santa Maria, Quezon, San Mariano, Dinapigue, Delfin Albano, San Pablo, Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, Tumauini, Cabagan, Palanan, Quirino, Divilacan, Gamu, Maconacon, Naguilian, Mallig)
- Eastern portion of Ilocos Norte (Piddig, Bangui, Vintar, Marcos, Pagudpud, Banna, Adams, Carasi, Dingras, Solsona, Dumalneg, Nueva Era)
- Northern portion of Kalinga (City of Tabuk, Balbalan, Pinukpuk, Rizal)
- Northeastern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Malibcong)
A gale warning is also in effect over the seaboards of northern Luzon, eastern seaboards of Central Luzon, and the seaboards of southern Luzon and Visayas.
Heavy rains are expected over Batanes, eastern portion of Babuyan Islands, northeastern mainland Cagayan, southern portions of Ilocos Sur, and northern parts of La Union from Tuesday to Wednesday morning.
Heavy rains will also prevail from Wednesday morning to Thursday morning over Ilocos Sur and La Union.
Meanwhile, some parts of the country are experiencing rains and occasional gusts due to the southwest monsoon (habagat).
“Itong habagat ay naaapektuhan itong Southern Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao, kaya nakararanas tayo ng pagbugso ng hangin dito sa Metro Manila,” PAGASA weather specialist Aldczar Aurelio said.
The typhoon is forecast to weaken over the next five days and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on late Thursday or early Friday.
It may weaken into a severe tropical storm by Thursday or Friday, and to tropical storm by late Friday or early Saturday.
