PAGASA image
MANILA (UPDATED) — Betty weakened into a severe tropical storm on its way out of the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday, the state weather bureau said.
Betty was last spotted 570 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour near the center and 125 kph gusts, PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. bulletin.
The weather agency also lifted the remaining tropical cyclone signal over Batanes.
Moving at 10 kph, Betty is expected to leaves the PAR around Thursday afternoon or evening, PAGASA said.
"However, paglabas niya, makakaranas pa rin po ng mga pagbugso ng hangin ang malaking bahagi ng ating bansa dahil sa habagat o southwest monsoon," PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said in a 5 a.m. press briefing.
(However, once it leaves, a large part of the country will still experience wind gusts due to the habagat or southwest monsoon.)
The habagat enhanced by Betty will bring occasional to frequent wind gusts in northern Cagayan, Ilocos Region, the Cordilleras, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Northern Samar, and northern Palawan, he said.
Moderate to heavy rains will also fall over Occidental Mindoro, while light to moderate rains are expected in Oriental Mindoro, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Benguet, Abra, Antique, northern Palawan, Estareja said.
"Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible," PAGASA warned.
After leaving the Philippine area, Betty may directly hit or pass very close to Japan's Okinawa Island on Thursday night or Friday early morning, PAGASA said.
For more updates, visit the ABS-CBN weather center.