'Betty' weakens as it continues to move slowly east of Batanes

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) — Typhoon Betty weakened while moving slowly over the sea east of Batanes, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Tuesday evening.

According to PAGASA's 11 p.m. bulletin, Betty's maximum sustained winds decreased from 150 to 130 kilometers per hour near the center. Gustiness was also down from 185 to 160 kph.

Batanes, however, remains under Signal No, 2 — which means gale-force winds that have minor to moderate threat to life and property are possible.

Signal No. 1 is still up over Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the northern and eastern portions of Isabela, the eastern portion of Ilocos Norte, Apayao, the northern portion of Kalinga, and the northeastern portion of Abra, where strong winds with minimal to minor threat may be felt.

PAGASA said the outer periphery of the typhoon circulation and the enhanced southwest monsoon, or "habagat," are expected to bring gusts over the Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Aurora, Quezon, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Northern Samar, and the rest of the Cordillera Administrative Region and Ilocos Norte.

From today until Wednesday morning, PAGASA said Betty will also bring heavy rains in Batanes, parts of Babuyan Islands and mainland Cagayan, as well as parts of Ilocos Sur and La Union.

Ilocos Sur and La Union will experience heavy rains until Thursday morning. By then, the storm will be "near the PAR line," added PAGASA.

Betty was last spotted 330 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, moving northward "slowly." PAGASA earlier logged its speed at 10 kph.

The storm is seen to continue moving generally northward slowly until Wednesday over waters east of Batanes before gradually accelerating north-northeastward on Thursday.

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PAGASA said Betty may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility as a severe tropical storm or tropical storm late Thursday or early Friday.