Pepito weakens, set to exit Philippine area. PAGASA photo

MANILA — Pepito weakened into a severe tropical storm as it was set to leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Monday, PAGASA said.

Severe Tropical Storm Pepito was last located 270 kilometers west of Batac, Ilocos Norte, packing maximum winds of 110 kilometers per hour and up to 135 kph gusts. It was moving west-northwestward at 20 kph.

The national weather agency said that even though Pepito was already moving away from the Philippines, moderate to heavy rains could lash Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Zambales, Cagayan, Aurora, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Batanes, and Isabela.

The heavy rainfall could trigger landslides and localized flooding, PAGASA warned.

Residents in coastal areas of northern Luzon could still experience rough seas, posing risks for all types of vessels, the weather bureau added.

Pepito on Sunday knocked down power, tore rickety houses, forced thousands to flee, wiped crops, and left at least one dead in Camarines Norte.

The erstwhile super typhoon was the latest in a flurry of cyclones to have devastated the disaster-prone nation in less than a month, which experts said was unusual.

Pepito is forecast to leave the Philippine area Monday noon or afternoon. It could continue to weaken as it moved over the West Philippine Sea.