'Marilyn' weakens, to exit PAR by Wednesday

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon "Marilyn" has weakened and is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Wednesday evening or Thursday, weather bureau PAGASA said on Monday.

At 6 a.m., the typhoon was located 1,140 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora with winds of 160 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 195 kph. It is likely to move west northwest at 20 kph.

The typhoon is forecasted to change its movement to north northeast due to the presence of ridge of high pressure area.

PAGASA said that the typhoon will not directly affect the country. It is not expected to make landfall but the weather bureau will continue to monitor it.

Marilyn will enhance the northeast monsoon or "amihan" which will affect Northern Luzon.

Meanwhile, an inter-tropical convergence zone will continue to affect Mindanao.

"Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced over Eastern and Central Visayas, SOCCSKSARGEN and Davao region while partly cloudy to cloudy skies with light rains is expected over Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan group of island," PAGASA said.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.