Tropical Storm Sarah weakens as it moves to Japan

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Sarah is no longer expected to bring significant rainfall in the country as it moves to the southern Ryukus of Japan, the state weather bureau said Friday.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), in its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, said all Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals are now lifted.

But gusts may still be experienced over Batanes and Babuyan Islands caused by the surge of the Northeast Monsoon.

Sarah was last spotted 345 kilometers (km) northeast of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, gustiness of up to 115 kph.

Pagasa said Sarah is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) between Friday evening and Saturday morning. It is forecast to weaken as it moves towards the East China Sea in the next two days.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said the remnant of Tropical Depression Ramon was estimated at 590 km West of Coron, Palawan outside the PAR as of 4 a.m.