PAGASA warns of floods and landslides in the areas affected by the intensification of the southwest monsoon on Wednesday, May 31
MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Betty (Mawar) moved northeast, or farther away from Luzon, Wednesday morning, May 31, but the increased southwest monsoon o habagat continues to threaten parts of Mimaropa and Western Visayas.
Due to the southwest monsoon, new heavy rain warnings were issued for Occidental Mindoro, parts of Palawan, Antique, Aklan, Guimaras, Iloilo and the southern part of Negros Occidental on Wednesday morning.
PAGASA warned about floods and landslides in the affected provinces.
Other parts of southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao may also experience showers or thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon on Wednesday.
At 10 am, Betty was already 375 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, moving northeast at 10 kilometers per hour (km/h).
The typhoon maintained its strength, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h and gusts of up to 150 km/h.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Betty may still bring rain until Thursday morning June 1 in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Abra and Benguet provinces. Floods and landslides are still possible.
Tropical cyclone wind signals have been lifted in some areas. Below is the list updated as of 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Sign No. 2
Hurricane force winds (62 to 88 km/h), mild to moderate threat to life and property
Sign No. 1
High winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property
- northeastern part of Isabela (Santa María, San Pablo, Divilacan, Maconacon, Palanan, Cabagan)
- apayao
- Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands
PAGASA added that the rise of the southwest monsoon will bring occasional to frequent gusts to Western Visayas, Bicol, Aurora, Quezon, the northern part of the Palawan mainland, including the Calamian and Cuyo islands, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro and Romblon, as well as areas remaining. of the Ilocos Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region that are not under wind signals.
For coastal waters, the gale warning issued at 5 am on Wednesday remains:
- Northern Luzon shorelines and central Luzon eastern shorelines: rough seas to high seas, with waves 3.1 to 6.5 meters high
- coasts of southern Luzon and eastern coast of Visayas: rough to very rough seas, with waves from 2.8 to 4.5 meters high
PAGASA warned that rough seas and the high seas are risky for all vessels. In areas with rough to very rough seas, small boats should not sail, while larger boats should be alert for large waves.
Betty is expected to pick up gradually Wednesday through Thursday as it generally heads north. But PAGASA said there may be “some wobbles in its movement,” such as “sudden turns” to the north-northeast or northwest, in the short term or in the next 12 hours.
The typhoon could move further to the northeast beginning Thursday afternoon or evening.
Betty may weaken to a severe tropical storm Wednesday night or Thursday morning, and become a tropical storm Friday night, June 2, or Saturday morning, June 3.
There is also a possibility that Betty will weaken at a faster rate due to the effect of dry air in the typhoon, PAGASA added.
It could leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday night or early Friday morning.
Outside of PAR, it may pass very close to or make landfall in the vicinity of Japan’s central Ryukyu Islands, possibly on the island of Okinawa, by mid-Friday, according to PAGASA.
Also out of PAR, Betty may begin transitioning to a post-tropical cyclone on Saturday or Sunday June 4.
Betty entered PAR as a super typhoon in the early hours of Saturday May 27 and prior to its entry it had reached a peak intensity of 215 km/h. It is the country’s second tropical cyclone for 2023 and the first super typhoon of the year. –Rappler.com
