Cyclone alerts lifted as Typhoon Karen weakens, about to exit Luzon

Tropical cyclone alerts in several areas were lowered as Typhoon Karen continued to weaken and starts its exit from the Luzon landmass before noon Sunday.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal Number 3 raised over at least 10 areas in Luzon were lifted as of 11 a.m.

State weather bureau PAGASA said in its latest bulletin that the typhoon was "about to exit the landmass via Pangasinan."

As of 10 a.m., the typhoon's center was in the vicinity of Bolinao, Pangasinan.

PAGASA weather forecaster Benison Estareja said the typhoon is expected to exit the landmass in the afternoon.

The typhoon has weakened, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 200 kph.

Typhoon Karen is forecast to move west northwest at 22 kph and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Monday morning between 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Signal Number 2 was hoisted over Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales and La Union.

Signal Number 1 is raised over Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Benguet, Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Batangas and nothern Quezon.

Meanwhile, Estareja said Orange Rainfall Warning is raised over Zambales, Bulacan, and Tarlac with rains expected to reach between 15-30 mm per hour.

Yellow Rainfall Warning is effective in Pampanga, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas, and Laguna.

Metro Manila, Rizal, and Quezon will experience light to moderate rains with occasional heavy rains for the next three hours.

Estareja cautioned the public to avoid Manila Bay for possible wave pile-up.

He added the country will experience better weather by Tuesday as Karen exits PAR.

“Until Tuesday ng madaling araw hihina na yung pag-ulan, hihina na yung pag-ulan dahil nasa labas na ng PAR itong si Karen,” Estareja said.

“Weather improves by tomorrow sa Visayas and Mindanao, and sa Bicol [Region]. May pag-ulan pa rin pero mas mahina na and may times na maaring sumikat ang araw,” he added.

Estareja, meanwhile, said the country can expect occasional rains again by Wednesday due to Severe Tropical Storm Haima.

He said Haima is expected to enter PAR by Monday morning, which will then be named Lawin. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/ALG, GMA News