By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
Typhoon “Wutip” is expected to further weaken and poses no serious threat to the Philippines.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated Wutip to be 1,985 kilometers east of Central Luzon or still outside the country’s area of responsibility around Wednesday noon.
It had weakened, with maximum sustained winds of 160 km. per hour (kph) gusting to 195 kph, as it slowly moves north.
If it keeps its current track, Wutip will be inside the Philippine area of responsibility Thursday and will be locally named “Betty.” It will be the first cyclone this month and the second this year.
PAGASA said the weather disturbance is not expected to make landfall in the country.
By Thursday, Wutip could weaken into a storm and is expected to be 1,565 km east of Central Luzon.
By Friday, it could be downgraded into a tropical depression and a low pressure area by Saturday.
PAGASA said the northeast monsoon or amihan remains the prevailing weather system across the country.
Batanes and Babuyan islands will be cloudy with light rains, while Aurora and the rest of Cagayan Valley will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated light rains.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy skies.