STS Betty Weakens and Prepares to Exit PAR

Severe Tropical Storm Betty, previously a typhoon, continues to weaken as it moves away from the Philippines and is about to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) provides the latest update on Betty’s status, along with the hazards affecting land areas and coastal waters.

Current Details

• Location of Eye/Center (4:00 PM): The center of Severe Tropical Storm Betty was estimated at 570 km Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes (24.3 °N, 125.9 °E).
• Movement: Betty is moving north-northeastward at 10 km/h.
• Strength: It has maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 125 km/h.

Hazards Affecting Land Areas

Heavy Rainfall Outlook

As Betty moves away, the Southwest Monsoon will become the dominant rain-causing system in the country. This can result in potential flooding and rain-induced landslides, particularly in highly or very highly susceptible areas identified in hazard maps. Localities that have already experienced significant rainfall in recent days should remain cautious. Stay informed about areas affected by occasional to frequent rains from the Southwest Monsoon enhanced by Betty through Weather Advisory #7 for Southwest Monsoon issued at 11:00 AM today.

Severe Winds

Within the next 24 hours, the enhanced Southwest Monsoon will bring occasional to frequent wind gusts over the following areas:

• Northern Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands
• Ilocos Region
• Cordillera Administrative Region
• Central Luzon
• Metro Manila
• CALABARZON
• Bicol Region
• MIMAROPA
• Western Visayas
• Northern Samar and the northern portion of Samar

Hazards Affecting Coastal Waters

Under the influence of Severe Tropical Storm Betty and the enhanced Southwest Monsoon, a marine gale warning remains in effect over the following areas:

• Northern seaboards of Northern Luzon
• Eastern seaboard of Luzon
• Western seaboard of Southern Luzon

For more information, refer to Gale Warning #10 issued at 5:00 AM today.

Track and Intensity Outlook

Severe Tropical Storm Betty will continue to gradually accelerate northward or north-northeastward until this afternoon before turning northeastward or east-northeastward over the waters near the Ryukyu Islands. Based on the track forecast, Betty will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) this afternoon or evening. Once outside the PAR, the severe tropical storm may make landfall or pass very close to Okinawa Island tonight or tomorrow early morning.

Betty is expected to steadily weaken throughout the forecast period due to the lower sea surface temperature surrounding the Ryukyu Islands. The severe tropical storm may be downgraded to a tropical storm category on Saturday, although a faster weakening rate remains possible within the forecast period.

Forecast Position

• Jun 01, 2023 08:00 PM – 800 km Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes (OUTSIDE PAR)
• Jun 02, 2023 08:00 AM – 1,050 km Northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon (OUTSIDE PAR)