Signal No. 1 in 11 areas as Betty continues to decelerate, move west-northwest over PH Sea

Typhoon Betty (international name: Mawar) has continued to decelerate but a dozen areas in Luzon remain under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) 1, while rains are possible over the western portions of the Visayas.

According to Tropical Cyclone Bulletin 7 released by PAGASA on Sunday afternoon, Betty is now moving, at maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 205 kph, west-northwest over the Philippine Sea. Its eye was last spotted 630 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City.

The 11 a.m. bulletin recorded Betty’s speed at 175kph near the center, gustiness of up to 215 kph, and a central pressure of 935 hectopascals (hPa).

The following areas remain under TCWS 1, indicating that winds of 39 kph to 61 kph or intermittent rains are expected within 36 hours:

• Batanes,
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands,
• Isabela,
• Apayao,
• Ilocos Norte,
• the northern and central portions of Abra (Tineg, Lacub, Lagayan, San Juan, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Malibcong, Danglas, La Paz, Dolores, Tayum, Bucay, Sallapadan, Daguioman, Bucloc, Boliney),
• Kalinga,
• the eastern and central portions of Mountain Province (Sadanga, Barlig, Natonin, Paracelis, Bontoc),
• the eastern and central portions of Ifugao (Mayoyao, Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Banaue, Hingyon, Lagawe, Lamut, Kiangan, Asipulo),
• the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao), Quirino, and
• the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Solano, Bagabag, Diadi, Villaverde, Bayombong, Ambaguio)

PAGASA expects Betty to move west northwestward or notheastward for the next 36 hours while gradually decelerating, with monsoon rains possible over the western portions of Mimaropa and Western Visayas.

“The typhoon will likely become slow-moving to almost stationary by Tuesday while over the waters east of Batanes. It will then move northward or north northeastward by mid Wednesday towards the sea east of Taiwan,” it said.

The state weather bureau said betty is likely to remain as a typhoon throughout its forecast period, and it expected to gradually weaken until Tuesday, and may be downgraded to a severe tropical storm on Thursday.

A number of flights and sea trips have been canceled due to inclement weather conditions brought about by Typhoon Betty, which entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) early Saturday morning. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News