Typhoon "Fabian" (international name "In-fa") has slightly decelerated but continues to enhance the southwest monsoon or "habagat," triggering light to moderate to at times heavy rains over several parts of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday morning, July 21.
PAGASA estimated the center of the eye of Fabian at 740 kilometers (km) east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes around 4 a.m.
It has maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph while moving west-southwest at 10 kph.
Aside from Fabian, PAGASA said a severe tropical storm with an international name "Cempaka" also helps enhance the southwest monsoon.
"Cempaka" remains outside the Philippine area of responsibility or about 1,030 km west of extreme northern Luzon as of Wednesday morning.
In the next 24 hours, light to moderate monsoon rains, which may become heavy during thunderstorms, will prevail over Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, and the northern portion of Palawan, including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands.
Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms may also affect Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, and the rest of Luzon.
Meanwhile, the rest of the country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy conditions with rain showers or thunderstorms.
PAGASA warned against possible flash floods or rain-induced landslides during heavy or prolonged rainfall, particularly in areas that are highly susceptible to these hazards.
Meanwhile, PAGASA said there remains a possibility that tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 may be hoisted over Batanes and Babuyan Islands.
Track and intensity outlook
Fabian will likely move west-southwestward until Thursday morning, July 22, and westward in the afternoon through Friday morning, July 23.
"On the forecast track, Fabian will pass close or make landfall in the vicinity of Yaeyama, Miyako, and Senkaku Islands of the Ryukyu archipelago on Friday before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday morning (24 July)," PAGASA said.
It will likely make landfall over northern Taiwan by Saturday morning or afternoon and over the southeastern part of mainland China by Sunday, July 25.
Furthermore, PAGASA said that Fabian may further intensify and reach its peak intensity of 155 kph on Thursday evening.
"Gradual weakening may occur beginning on Saturday as the typhoon passes near or over the rugged terrain of Taiwan. The landfall over mainland China will result in the rapid weakening of Fabian on Sunday," it added.