Tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 remains hoisted over Batanes and Babuyan Islands as typhoon “Fabian” (international name “In-fa”) continued to move slowly over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said Thursday, July 22.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated the center of the eye of Fabian at 505 kilometers (km) Northeast of Itbayat, Batanes as of 4 p.m.

The typhoon maintained its strength at maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph while moving westward slowly.

PAGASA said Fabian is unlikely to directly bring heavy rainfall in the country throughout the forecast period.

But it noted that the typhoon will enhance the effects of the prevailing southwest monsoon or “habagat”, and bring monsoon rains over parts of Luzon in the next 24 hours.

Based on the latest weather update, Batanes and Babuyan Islands will experience rains with gusty winds due to the severe weather disturbance in the next several hours.

Residents in the said areas were warned of possible flash floods or landslides due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

Monsoon rains due to habagat would affect Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Benguet, Abra, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, and Batangas.

Moreover, the habagat will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Western Visayas and the rest of Luzon.

As for the rest of country, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rain showers or thunderstorms may prevail over these areas.

State meteorologists said strong winds will be experienced over Batanes and Babuyan Islands throughout the passage the typhoon, while occasional gusty conditions will prevail over Visayas and the rest of Luzon especially in coastal and mountainous areas due to habagat.

PAGASA said Fabian is forecast to further intensify and reach its peak intensity of 155 to 165 kph on Thursday night.

The agency said the typhoon will move generally west northwestward in the next 12 hours, northwestward by Friday afternoon, July 23, then will turn north northwestward until Sunday morning July 25.

“Fabian is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Friday evening or Saturday morning, July 24,” PAGASA said.

By Sunday afternoon until Monday July 26, the cyclone will move northwestward before turning westward by Tuesday July 27.