MANILA —  The state weather bureau on Monday said the southwest monsoon or habagat season has ended and cold winds would blow soon from the northeast.

According to PAGASA, there was a significant weakening of the habagat over the past few days.

It has also noted the strengthening of the high-pressure system over East Asia, gradually changing weather patterns in the country.

“With these developments, the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) season has officially ended. The country is now transitioning to the Northeast Monsoon (NE) season, which may be apparent and declared in the coming weeks,” it added.

The northeast monsoon or amihan season signals the onset of colder weather associated with Christmas.

Meanwhile, PAGASA is monitoring a new low pressure area inside the Philippine area of responsibility, west of Palawan.

Although it is not expected to develop into a tropical cyclone, it will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Metro Manila, central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol region, and parts of Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley region, and Mimaropa.

Soccsksargen and BARMM, meanwhile, will have cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).

For more updates, visit the ABS-CBN weather center.