Fabian intensifies; flood alert raised

MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau warned residents of western Luzon yesterday of possible floods and landslides due to monsoon rains triggered by severe Tropical Storm Fabian and another storm outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said moderate to heavy rains will be experienced in the next 24 hours over the Ilocos region, Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro and Palawan.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of Fabian was located 1,075 kilometers east northeast of extreme Northern Luzon, packing winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph.

Fabian (international name In-fa) was “almost stationary” over the sea, the agency said in its 5 p.m. bulletin.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Cempaka was estimated at 945 kms. west northwest of extreme Northern Luzon as of 4 p.m., with maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph.

It was moving northwest slowly.

PAGASA said the southwest monsoon will also bring moderate to rough seas (1.5 to 3.1-meter waves) over the western seaboard of Palawan, including the Kalayaan Islands.

The agency advised residents and disaster managers in Batanes and Babuyan Islands to continuously monitor the tropical cyclone bulletins as any further southward shift in the track of Fabian may result in the hoisting of tropical cyclone wind signal No. 1 over these areas.

Fabian, the country’s sixth tropical cyclone, was forecast to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday afternoon or evening.

PAGASA said Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Batanes, Cagayan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Bulacan will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon.

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with rainshowers or thunderstorms will prevail over the rest of the country, also due to the southwest monsoon.