'Jose' weakens but Habagat to dump rains over Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon "Jose" has slightly weakened as it continues to move in a northwest direction away from the Philippine land mass, the state weather bureau said before Monday noon.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Jose is now packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 220 kph.

The Hawaii-based Joint Typhoon Warning Center of the US Department of Defense has downgraded Jose (international name Halong) from a super typhoon.

Jose was last located by PAGASA at 880 kilometers east southeast of Aparri, Cagayan moving northwest at 15 kph.

Heavy to intense rainfall (10 to 25 millimeters per hour) has been estimated within the 650-kilometer diameter of the typhoon.

PAGASA reiterated that Jose will not affect any part of the country. The southwest monsoon or "habagat," however, will continue to bring rains over Ilocos Region and Central Luzon.

Metro Manila and the regions of Calabarzon and Mimaropa will also have occasional rains.

"Fisherfolks and those with small seacraft are advised not to venture out over the Northern and Western seaboards of Luzon and the Eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon," PAGASA said.

PAGASA expects the typhoon to be at 840 kilometers east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Tuesday morning and at 810 kilometers east northeast of Basco, Batanes by Wednesday morning.

By Thursday morning, Jose will be at 250 kilometers east of Okinawa, Japan.