Signal No. 1 still over Batanes, Babuyan Islands as Fabian moves slowly

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 remained raised over Batanes and Babuyan Islands as Typhoon Fabian continued to move slowly near Miyako Islands, PAGASA said Thursday night.

In its 11 p.m. severe weather bulletin, PAGASA said the center of the eye of Fabian was located 515 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes at 10 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 Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Metro Manila, most of CALABARZON and Central Luzon, and portions of MIMAROPA will experience scattered to widespread 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 the typhoon, while occasionally gusty conditions associated with the enhanced southwest monsoon will be experienced over Visayas and the rest of Luzon, especially in the coastal and upland localities.

Moreover, rough to very rough seas will be experienced 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 advised.

PAGASA said Fabian is forecasted to pass close or make landfall in the vicinity of Miyako, Yaeyama, and Senkaku Islands on Friday evening. It is forecasted to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Friday late evening and Saturday morning. —NB, GMA News