‘Fabian’ now a typhoon

MANILA – Weather disturbance “Fabian” has intensified into a typhoon, the weather bureau said on Tuesday afternoon.

“Fabian” packs maximum sustained winds of 20 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph. It was last tracked 895 km. east-northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.

No tropical cyclone wind signal is in effect and “Fabian” is unlikely to bring heavy rains across the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

However, “Fabian” and the weather disturbance outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility with the international name, “Cempaka”, continue to enhance the southwest monsoon.

Monsoon rains will continue to prevail over Metro Manila, the Ilocos and Cordillera regions, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, northern Palawan (including the Calamian and Cuyo Islands), Batanes, and the Babuyan Islands.

The enhanced southwest monsoon will also continue to cause rough to very rough seas over the seaboards of Batanes, the northern seaboard of Cagayan (including the Babuyan Islands), and the western seaboard of Palawan (including the Kalayaan and Calamian Islands) and Occidental Mindoro (including Lubang Islands).

PAGASA said sea travel is risky for small seacrafts, and mariners without the proper experience are advised to immediately seek safe harbor.

Meanwhile, scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will be experienced over Western Visayas, the rest of Mimaropa, the rest of Calabarzon, and the rest of Cagayan Valley.

Flash floods or landslides are possible during moderate to at times heavy rains.

The rest of the country will experience rain showers or thunderstorms, still due to the southwest monsoon.

Moderate to strong winds and moderate to rough seas are forecast to prevail over Luzon and the Visayas.

Over Mindanao, winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas, PAGASA said.