‘Betty’ weakens but brings rains

TYPHOON “Betty” has further weakened over the sea east of Batanes, but it continues to bring moderate to heavy rains, especially in extreme Northern Luzon as it enhances the southwest monsoon.

While Signal No. 1 was lifted in some Luzon areas, Signal No. 2 remains hoisted over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga) including Babuyan Islands, weather specialist Grace Castañeda of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Still under Signal No. 1 were the rest of mainland Cagayan, the northern and eastern portions of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Santa Maria, Quezon, San Mariano, Dinapigue, Delfin Albano, San Pablo, Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, Tumauini, Cabagan, Palanan, Quirino, Divilacan, Gamu, Maconacon, Naguilian and Mallig), the eastern portion of Ilocos Norte (Piddig, Bangui, Vintar, Marcos, Pagudpud, Banna, Adams, Carasi, Dingras, Solsona, Dumalneg and Nueva Era), Apayao, the northern portion of Kalinga (City of Tabuk, Balbalan, Pinukpuk and Rizal), and the northeastern portion of Abra (Tineg, Lacub and Malibcong).

Moving north-northwest at 10 kilometers per hour, the typhoon was estimated some 350 km east of Basco, the capital of Batanes, while packing maximum sustained winds of 155 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph, the weather bureau said.

“Although sli