Typhoon Betty weakened into a severe tropical storm while on its way to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Thursday morning, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In its 5 AM bulletin, PAGASA said Betty was last located 505 kilometers Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes packing maximum sustain winds of 110 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 135 km/h, and central pressure of 975 hPa.
It is moving northward at 15 km/h and is expected to leave PAR on Thursday evening or evening.
"Outside the PAR, the severe tropical storm may make landfall or pass very close to Okinawa Island tonight or tomorrow early morning," the state weather bureau said.
PAGASA lifted Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Wind Signals No. 1 and No. 2 in several areas in Luzon, and only the province of Batanes is still under TCWS No. 1.
PAGASA said rainfall from 50-100 mm may be experience over La Union, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, and the southern portion of Abra on Thursday evening or Friday evening.
Betty is expected to be further downgraded to a tropical storm category by Saturday, June 3.
Meanwhile, the state weather bureau said that he enhanced Southwest Monsoon will bring occasional to frequent wind gusts in Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Central Luzon, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA, Western Visayas, and Northern Samar and the northern portion of Samar in the next 24 hours.
