Batanes still under Signal No. 1 as Typhoon Betty slows down - PAGASA

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 31) — Typhoon Betty retained its strength as it continued on its northward movement over the sea east northeast of Batanes, the state weather bureau said Wednesday evening.

According to the 11 p.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Betty's maximum sustained winds stayed at 120 kilometers per hour near the center. Gustiness is at 150 kph.

Betty, however, slowed its pace from 15 to 10 kph. The typhoon was last located 450 km east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes.

Batanes remains under Signal No. 1, where strong winds with minimal to minor threat may be felt. PAGASA has lifted the wind signal over the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands.

The bureau said the enhanced southwest monsoon due to Betty will also bring occasional to frequent wind gusts over Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Aurora, Quezon, Mimaropa, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Cagayan Valley.

PAGASA warned that Betty may slowly accelerate through Thursday before turning more northeastward in the afternoon.

Betty is seen to weaken over the next five days and may be downgraded into a severe tropical storm by tonight or tomorrow morning and into a tropical storm by Friday evening or Saturday morning.

The typhoon is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Thursday afternoon or evening and may pass very close or make landfall in the vicinity of central Ryukyu Islands in Japan by mid-Friday, the state weather bureau added.