MANILA, Philippines — Moderate to heavy rains are forecast in Metro Manila and nine other areas in Luzon as a weaker Typhoon "Carina" nears the northern boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and is expected to cross Taiwan on Thursday, the state-run weather agency said. Other affected areas are Bulacan, Pampanga, Cavite, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, rest of Ilocos Region, Abra, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Downgraded from a super typhoon, Carina is moving northward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) and may exit PAR on Thursday morning, Pagasa said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

With only Batanes under Signal No. 1, Carina was estimated some 465 kms north of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph, weather specialist Rhea Torres said.

"Carina is forecast to exit the PAR region this morning, cross the Taiwan Strait, and make its final landfall over southeastern China this afternoon or evening," the Pagasa forecaster said.

Although on its way out, the typhoon will continue to enhance the southwest monsoon or "habagat," bringing 100 to 200 millimeters of moderate to intense rains over Zambales, La Union, Pangasinan and Benguet.

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