MANILA, Philippines(UPDATED) - Typhoon "Chedeng" has left the country, weather bureau PAGASA said on Saturday afternoon.

The typhoon, which has killed 3 people so far, left the Philippines at around 2 p.m. and is now heading for Japan, according to PAGASA senior weather forecaster Mario Palafox.

He said rains in Metro Manila are caused by the southwest monsoon.

PAGASA, in a 5 p.m. weather bulletin, said Chedeng rapidly picked up speed as it moves away from the Philippines.

The typhoon, which is packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph, was spotted 600 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes at 4 p.m.

It is moving northeast at 32 kph  and is expected to be 870 km north northeast of Basco, Batanes or 150 km north of Okinawa, Japan, by Sunday morning.

All storm signals in the country have been lifted.

PAGASA supervising undersecretary Graciano Yumul, in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo, said the rainy season has officially started in the country.

"April 12 tayo nagdeclare ng summer, tapos na agad," he said.

He added that the weather this year has been "very strange."

Yumul said the Chedeng's eye did not make landfall but a portion of the typhoon struck Batanes, Cagayan, and Isabela. "Tumama ang bagyo dahil sa 650 kilometer radius (nito)," he explained.