Most of Northern Luzon now under Signal No. 1 as Super Typhoon Betty weakens

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 27) — The state weather bureau on Saturday evening raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over most of Northern Luzon while Super Typhoon Betty weakened and began moving westward.

In its 5 p.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Signal No. 1 – an alert for “strong winds” – has been hoisted over most of Northern Luzon:

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)

No storm signals have been raised in the Visayas or Mindanao, as of this writing.

Signal No. 1 means there is minimal to minor threat to life and property, according to PAGASA.

Called “Mawar” before entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Saturday morning, the super typhoon left residents of the US territory of Guam dealing with widespread damage, water supply issues, and power outages with its hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall.

According to PAGASA, Betty is the strongest tropical cyclone to enter the Philippines this year.

Betty was packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near its center and gustiness of up to 230 kph as of 5 p.m. While it slightly weakened, it is still expected to remain a super typhoon over the weekend.

In the previous 11 a.m. bulletin, Betty was packing a strength of 195 kph near the center, gustiness of 240 kph, and was moving northwestward at 30 kph.

PAGASA added that short-term intensification is possible over the next 12 to 24 hours.

However, it said the tropical cyclone may begin weakening considerably on Monday or Tuesday. Betty could even be downgraded into a typhoon within this timeframe but would still remain strong.

From Monday morning to Tuesday morning, it said light to moderate rains are expected over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern portions of mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and Ilocos Sur.

Light rains are expected over La Union and the Cordillera Administrative Region on these days.

Heavier rainfall is expected from Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning, particularly over Batanes.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 105 kph as of 10 a.m. and is expected to remain a super typhoon over the weekend.

PAGASA added that short-term intensification is possible over the next 12 to 24 hours.

READ: Batanes, Cagayan gear up for possible effects of Super Typhoon Mawar

In that same period, PAGASA forecasts moderate to heavy rains over Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union; and light to moderate rains over Cordillera Administrative Region and the northern portion of mainland Cagayan.

It also noted that rainfall is likely generally higher in elevated or mountainous areas.

As of 5 p.m, PAGASA said Betty was spotted 1,035 kilometers east of Central Luzon, moving westward at 25 kph.

It said the tropical cyclone may eventually slow down and become almost stationary between late Tuesday and early Wednesday when it will be closest to Batanes.

Meanwhile, PAGASA advised against sailing for small vessels in the eastern and northern seaboards of Luzon, as well as the eastern coast of the Visayas because of rough seas.

Effects of southwest monsoon

Despite not being directly affected by the super typhoon, PAGASA said rains are also possible over the western sections of Mimaropa, the Visayas, and Mindanao on Sunday due to enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat.”

On Monday and Tuesday, monsoon rains are likely over the western sections of Mimaropa and Western Visayas, and possible over the rest of Mimaropa and Western Visayas.

The bureau also warned that flooding and rain-induced landslides are likely under these conditions, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards.