Typhoon "Fabian" (international name "In-fa") slightly weakened as it is about to leave the country's area of responsibility, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 11 p.m. bulletin on Friday, July 23.
The center of the eye of typhoon Fabian was estimated at 560 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes around 10 p.m. and will likely leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) in the next three to six hours.
Fabian is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph while moving north-northwest at 10 kph.
Due to the wide circulation of the typhoon, tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 remains hoisted over Batanes.
PAGASA said Batanes may continue to experience heavy rain and gusty winds in the next few hours.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon or "habagat" being enhanced by Fabian will continue to bring scattered to widespread monsoon rains over Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Metro Manila, most of Central Luzon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan, and portions of Western Visayas in the next 24 hours.
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.
Occasional gusty conditions associated with the enhanced southwest monsoon may also prevail over Visayas and the rest of Luzon, especially in the coastal and upland areas.
"The typhoon is forecast to gradually accelerate while moving generally northwestward over the East China Sea. On the forecast track, Fabian may make landfall in the vicinity of eastern mainland China on Sunday afternoon or evening (July 25)," PAGASA said.
"Fabian is forecast to maintain its strength and remain within typhoon category until Sunday morning. Afterward, gradual weakening is expected as the typhoon moves closer to the China coast," it added.
It will likely be downgraded into a severe tropical storm after its landfall over eastern China.
"Rapid weakening should follow post-landfall as Fabian moves inland, eventually leading to its degeneration into a remnant low by Tuesday evening (July 27)," PAGASA said.