Batanes and Babuyan Islands may experience cloudy weather with light rains due to the northeast monsoon or “amihan,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Monday, Dec. 12.

PAGASA said the surge of the amihan, which is partly enhanced by tropical storm Rosal (international name: Pakhar), may bring occasional gusts in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the coastal and upland areas of Ilocos Norte, northern and eastern Cagayan, and eastern Isabela.

It added that Rosal, which was last spotted 770 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan around 3 a.m. on Monday, is now less likely to directly bring heavy rains to any part of the country.

“Tropical storm Rosal is forecast to move generally northeastward until this afternoon (Dec. 12) before turning eastward for the remainder of the day. During this same period, this tropical storm is forecast to maintain its present intensity, although a short window of slight intensification is not ruled out, which may potentially bring it to severe tropical storm category within the day,” PAGASA pointed out.

It said that Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the trough or extension of Rosal and localized thunderstorms.

The public is advised to remain vigilant as severe thunderstorms may also cause flash floods or landslides, especially in areas prone to these hazards.

“By tomorrow (Dec. 13), Rosal will begin encountering increasingly unfavorable conditions associated with the surge of the northeast monsoon, which will result in rapid weakening and a southward to southwestward turn in its direction (as the monsoon surge begins to greatly influence its movement). Rosal is forecast to become a remnant low tomorrow evening or on Wednesday early morning (Dec. 14) before dissipating shortly thereafter,” PAGASA said.