Storm Betty to dump rains over Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical Storm Betty (international name Bavi), which entered the Philippine area of responsibility last night, is likely to dump rains over parts of Northern and Central Luzon this weekend, the state weather bureau warned.

Aldczar Aurelio, weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said light to moderate rains are likely to prevail over Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora and Quezon beginning Friday until Sunday due to Bavi, which was locally named Betty.

For the next 24 hours, the whole country will experience partly cloudy to at times cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms due to Betty.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Bavi was spotted at 1,435 kilometers east of Casiguran, Aurora, packing winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kph.

It was forecast to move west northwest at 17 kph.

“It will continue to move closer to Philippine landmass and is likely to make landfall over Aurora on Friday night,” Aurelio said in a press briefing.

Aurelio, however, said Bavi is expected to weaken into a tropical depression within the next 24 to 36 hours.

He said the storm weakened and slowed down due to the intrusion of the cold northeast monsoon into its circulation.

Aurelio said Bavi might still weaken into a low-pressure area before hitting landmass in Aurora.

Bavi is projected to be at 1,030 km east northeast of Casiguran this morning; 640 km east northeast of Casiguran by tomorrow morning and 270 km east northeast of Casiguran by Friday morning.

Aurelio said the storm is not expected to affect Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila. He said the Visayas and Mindanao will have isolated rains.

PAGASA senior weather forecaster Rene Paciente said the storm is likely to dissipate while inside the area of responsibility.