The slow-moving typhoon "Fabian" (international name "In-fa") is expected to keep enhancing the southwest monsoon or "habagat" that will bring scattered to widespread rains over several areas in the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Friday, July 23.

In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the location of the center of the eye of typhoon Fabian was estimated at 510 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes around 4 a.m.

It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph while moving west-northwest slowly.

PAGASA said Fabian may reach its peak intensity of 155-165 kph within the day.

Due to its slow movement, Fabian is expected to continue to pull the southwest monsoon into the country and trigger scattered to widespread monsoon rains over Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province in the next 24 hours.

Monsoon rains may also affect most of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon, and portions of Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.

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.

Tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 also remains hoisted over Batanes and Babuyan Islands due to strong winds from typhoon Fabian.

Likewise, occasionally gusty conditions associated with the enhanced southwest monsoon will likely affect the Visayas and the rest of Luzon, especially in the coastal and upland areas.

Fabian will move generally northwest over the next 72 hours towards the southern portion of the Ryukyu Islands and the eastern portion of mainland China.

Although the typhoon will continue moving slowly in the next few hours, a gradual acceleration is expected beginning Friday afternoon or evening, PAGASA said.

It will pass close or make landfall in the vicinity of Miyako, Yaeyama, and Senkaku Islands Friday evening and leave the Philippine area of responsibility between Friday evening and Saturday morning, July 24.

After traversing the East China Sea, Fabian is forecast to make another landfall over the eastern portion of mainland China on Sunday afternoon or evening, July 25.