By Christine Fabro
Typhoon Fabian (international name “In-fa”) is outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) as of 11:00 p.m. yesterday (July 23), according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its early morning forecast today (July 24).
As of 4:00 a.m., Typhoon Fabian was estimated, based on all available data, at 640 kilometers north northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, outside the PAR with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour near the center.
Meanwhile, scattered to widespread monsoon rains brought about by the southwest monsoon or “habagat” will still be experienced in the next 24 hours in several areas in Luzon.
These areas include Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Metro Manila, most of Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA, and portions of Western Visayas.
“Rough to very rough seas will be experienced over the seaboards of Luzon and the western and central seaboards of Visayas. Sea travel is risky for small seacrafts over these waters. Mariners without the proper experience should immediately seek safe harbor,” PAGASA said at the 5:00 a.m. weather bulletin.
Fabian is forecast to gradually accelerate while moving generally northwestward over the East China Sea.
“On the forecast track, Fabian may make landfall in the vicinity of eastern mainland China on Sunday (July 25) afternoon or evening,” PAGASA said.
“Nevertheless, Fabian is forecast to rapidly weaken as it moves inland after making landfall over eastern China, eventually leading to its degeneration into a remnant low by Tuesday (July 27) evening,” it added. -rir