Expect gradual improvement in weather condition over areas affected by typhoon "Ulysses" in the next few days, as the cyclone is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Friday morning, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Only six areas remain under tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 as of 5 p.m. on Thursday.
These are the western portion of Pangasinan (Bautista, Alcala, Malasiqui, Santo Tomas, Santa Barbara, Mapandan, Mangaldan, Dagupan City, Calasiao, San Carlos City, Basista, Bayambang, Urbiztondo, Mangatarem, Aguilar, Binmaley, Lingayen, Bugallon, Labrador, Infanta, Mabini, Dasol, Sual, Alaminos City, Burgos, Agno, Bani, Bolinao, Anda), Tarlac, western portion of Pampanga (Magalang, Mabalacat, Angeles City, Porac, Floridablanca, Arayat, Mexico, Santa Ana, San Fernando City, Bacolor, Santa Rita, Guagua, Lubao, Sasmuan), Zambales, Bataan, and Lubang Island.
Strong breeze to near gale conditions may still prevail in areas under signal number 1 while the surge of the northeast monsoon or "amihan" may bring strong breeze to gale-force winds over Northern Luzon.
While over the West Philippine Sea, Ulysses has slightly weakened with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.
Until Thursday evening, moderate to heavy rains may persist over Cordillera Administrative Region, eastern portions of Cagayan and Isabela, Zambales, Bataan, Aurora, Cavite, western portion of Batangas, and Occidental Mindoro including Lubang Island, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains may continue in Western Visayas, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Samar, Metro Manila, and the rest of Luzon.
PAGASA advised the public to remain vigilant against flooding, including flashfloods, rain-induced landslides, and sediment-laden streamflows, including lahar that may occur during heavy or prolonged rainfall especially in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards.
Within the next 24 hours, the combined effects of typhoon Ulysses and the surge of amihan may trigger rough to very rough seas over the seaboards of areas under signal number 1, as well as the coasts of Northern Luzon, Occidental Mindoro, western seaboards of Batangas, Palawan, and Calamian and Kalayaan Islands.
Sea travel is still suspended in these areas.
Moderate to rough seas may also affect the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, seaboards of Cuyo Islands, and the western seaboard of Panay Island.
Mariners of small boats were advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea, while inexperienced mariners were asked to avoid navigating in these conditions.
The center of the eye of the typhoon was last observed at 200 kilometers (km) west of Iba, Zambales around 4 p.m. and will be outside the PAR by Friday morning.
Weather specialist Ariel Rojas said that by Friday, there will be a gradual improvement in weather condition in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, except in the western and northern parts of Luzon due to the prevailing tail-end of cold front.
The tail-end of cold front may bring scattered light to moderate with at times heavy rains that could possibly trigger widespread flooding and landslides.
Rojas said there is a minimal chance of tropical cyclone development in the next two to three days.