The southwest monsoon, or habagat, season may officially end within the next two weeks, with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) expecting to issue a termination announcement by the first week of October.

PAGASA weather specialist Daniel Villamil said there is currently no southwest monsoon reaching the Philippines, adding that recent rains, particularly in Metro Manila, have been caused by localized thunderstorms.

“Possibly within the next two weeks magrerelease tayo ng official termination ng southwest monsoon,” Villamil said during DZRH’s Special on Saturday.

Villamil said the agency expects the official end of the habagat season to be declared around the first week of October. He noted that PAGASA issued the termination of the monsoon around the same period last year.

Meanwhile, Severe Tropical Storm Queenie maintained its strength over the Philippine Sea as it slowed down, according to PAGASA’s 5 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin Saturday.

As of 4 a.m., the center of Queenie was estimated at 600 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds and other storm details being monitored by the weather bureau.

PAGASA said Queenie is likely to intensify into a typhoon Saturday evening or Sunday and strengthen further while moving over the sea south of the Okinawa Islands.

The storm is expected to reach peak intensity before beginning to weaken by Monday, Sept. 28.