Signal No. 1 still up over Batanes, Babuyan Islands due to Fabian

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still hoisted over Batanes and Babuyan Islands as Typhoon Fabian continues to move westward slowly over the Philippine Sea, southeast of Yaeyama Islands, PAGASA said Thursday.

In its 5 p.m. severe weather bulletin, the weather bureau said the center of the eye of Fabian was located 505 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes at 5 p.m. with maximum sustained winds of 150 km per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 185 kph, and central pressure of 955 hPa.

In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said the Ilocos Region, Abra, Benguet, Zambales, Bataan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, CALABARZON, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands will experience monsoon rains due to the southwest monsoon being enhanced by Fabian.

Strong winds (strong breeze to near-gale conditions) will also prevail over Batanes and Babuyan Islands throughout the passage of the typhoon, while occasional gusty conditions will be experienced over Visayas and the rest of Luzon, especially in coastal and mountainous areas due to southwest monsoon.

In the next 24 hours, rough to very rough seas will prevail over the seaboards of Luzon, including the areas under TCWS No. 1, and Visayas.

"Sea travel is risky for small seacrafts over these waters. Mariners without the proper experience should immediately seek safe harbor," PAGASA said.

On the forecast track, PAGASA said the typhoon will pass close or make landfall in the vicinity of Miyako, Yaeyama, and Senkaku Islands in the southern Ryukyu Archipelago between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

Fabian is forecasted to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

Fabian is also seen to further intensify and reach its peak intensity of 155 to 165 kph on Thursday night.—LDF, GMA News