By Marisol Bo-oc | 12:12 PM July 17, 2021
Tropical depression Fabian is currently enhancing the southwest monsoon (hanging habagat) and is forecast to intensify into a tropical storm within the next hours, the state weather bureau said Saturday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Fabian is unlikely to bring heavy rainfall in the country throughout its forecast period. However, it enhances the southwest monsoon, which may bring monsoon rains over the Mimaropa region (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) and the western portion of Visayas within 24 hours.
Based on Pagasa’s bulletin issued 11 a. m., Fabian slightly intensified while moving toward the eastern border of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
According to the state weather bureau, its center was last located 1,365 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon. The weather disturbance was packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 70 kph, and is now moving north-northeastward at 15 kph.
Fabian is forecast to reach tropical storm category within 12 hours. Furthermore, this tropical cyclone will continue intensifying throughout the remainder of the forecast period and may reach typhoon category by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rain showers or thunderstorms may prevail in Metro Manila and the rest of the country due to the southwest monsoon or localized thunderstorms.
