Typhoon "Kiko" (international "Chanthu") has left the country's area of responsibility at 1:10 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

It has no longer a direct effect on any part of the country thus all tropical cyclone wind signals have been lifted.

In the PAGASA's 5 p.m. bulletin, Kiko has slightly weakened but remains a strong cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 205 kph.

"In the next 24 hours, the typhoon is forecast to move generally northward over the East China Sea heading towards eastern China. Further weakening will continue throughout the forecast period but Kiko will remain within typhoon category," PAGASA said.

Although it has already left the country's area of responsibility, Kiko may still enhance the southwest monsoon or "habagat" and bring rains over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the western section of Central Luzon in the next 24 hours.

PAGASA warned those in these areas to remain vigilant against possible scattered to widespread flooding including flash floods and rain-induced landslides, especially in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards.

The habagat may also bring occasional gusts reaching strong breeze to near gale strength over the coastal and upland or mountainous areas of Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Metro Manila.

Cloudy skies with scattered monsoon rain showers and thunderstorms may prevail over Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, the rest of Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Bulacan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Aurora, and Nueva Ecija.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.