Fabian, tropical depression, monsoon bring rains

MANILA, Philippines — The southwest monsoon, which is being enhanced by Tropical Storm Fabian and a depression outside the country, will continue to bring rains over the western section of Luzon until today.

Light to moderate with at times heavy rains will continue to prevail over Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Zambales and Bataan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

The agency warned of possible floods and landslides during heavy and prolonged rainfall.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Fabian was spotted 1,095 kilometers east northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It was moving north northwest at 10 kph.

Fabian remained unlikely to make landfall or bring heavy rains in the country, PAGASA said.

It was expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility tonight or tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile, the tropical depression was estimated at 770 km west of Basco, Batanes as of 4 p.m., packing winds of 45 kph and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

It was expected to move northwest at 15 kph.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, Central and Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga peninsula, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu and Basilan will also experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon.

The rest of Visayas and Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rain showers and thunderstorms, also due to the southwest monsoon.