Severe tropical storm "Fabian" has intensified into a typhoon, however, no warning signals have so far been hoisted, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Tuesday afternoon, July 20.
“Fabian intensified into a typhoon at 2:00 p.m. today. This tropical cyclone is forecast to further intensify and may reach its peak intensity of 155 km/h on Thursday evening or Friday early morning,” the state weather bureau said in its latest bulletin.
Fabian was located 895 kilometers east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon as of 4 p.m. with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center, and gustiness of up to 150 km/h, the PAGASA said.
However, it “is unlikely to bring heavy rainfall in the country throughout the forecast period.”
With its current track, it is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Friday evening, July 23.
The southwest monsoon enhanced by Fabian will cause rains in Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, northern Palawan, including Calamian and Cuyo Islands; Batanes, and Babuyan Islands.
“The latest forecast scenario for Fabian shows that there is an increasing likelihood that Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 may be hoisted over Batanes and Babuyan Islands. Residents and disaster managers in Batanes and Babuyan Islands are advised to continuously monitor the tropical cyclone bulletins,” PAGASA said.
Rough to very rough seas may be experienced over the seaboards of Batanes, the northern seaboard of Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands; and the western seaboard of Palawan, including Kalayaan and Calamian Islands; and Occidental Mindoro, including Lubang Islands.
“Sea travel is risky for small seacrafts over these waters. Mariners without the proper experience should immediately seek safe harbor,” PAGASA said.