‘Fabian’ to bring rain over West Luzon, Visayas

Tropical Depression “Fabian,” located east of northern Luzon on Friday, is forecast to enhance the persisting southwest monsoon, locally known as “habagat,” which may bring rainy weather over parts of western Luzon and the Visayas.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), it is unlikely that Fabian will make a direct impact on the country’s weather conditions.

But the weather disturbance may strengthen the southwest monsoon, causing rain over Mimaropa and Calabarzon regions, Metro Manila, Bataan, Zambales and Western Visayas starting Sunday.

Pagasa warned of possible hazards brought by continuous rainfall.

Based on the bureau’s 5 p.m. weather bulletin, Fabian was 1,345 kilometers east of northern Luzon. The tropical depression was packing winds of up to 45 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 55 kph. It was moving “slowly” in a northward direction.

By Sunday afternoon, Pagasa said Fabian was forecast to intensify into a tropical storm. It is also expected to turn north-northwest. The weather disturbance is expected to emerge northeast of the Philippine area of responsibility, or 865 km northeast of extreme northern Luzon, on Tuesday afternoon.