Fabian now a tropical storm, will enhance Southwest Monsoon

Tropical Depression Fabian has become a tropical storm (international name: In-Fa) and will continue to enhance the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) on Sunday, PAGASA said in its early morning forecast.

From Fabian's eye or center, strong winds are extending outwards up to 400 km.

No Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals were raised.

Although Fabian is unlikely to bring heavy rainfall, it is drawing in the Southwest Monsoon together with a low pressure area located 630 km west of Calayan, Cagayan, outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Western Visayas, Palawan and Occidental Mindoro will thus have monsoon rains in the next 24 hours.

Metro Manila, Ilocos Region, the rest of Mimaropa, Bicol Region, the rest of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the Southwest Monsoon.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rain showers or thunderstorms due to the monsoon or localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA said flash floods or landslides may occur during times of moderate to heavy rains.

Coastal waters will be moderate to strong in Southern Luzon and Visayas, and slight to moderate elsewhere in the country.

Storm's strength, location

Fabian intensified and became a tropical storm at 2 a.m. Sunday.

At 4 a.m., the center of Fabian was located at 1,090 km east northeast of Extreme Northern Luzon.

Fabian has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 80 km/h, and central pressure of 998 hPa.

The storm is moving north northwestward at 10 km/h.

Fabian is expected to exit PAR on Monday evening.

PAGASA advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices to take the necessary precautions especially in areas susceptible or highly susceptible to hazards. 

Sunrise was at 5:36 a.m. Sunset will be at 6:29 p.m.

The next weather bulletin will be issued at 11 a.m. —KG, GMA News