Signal No. 1 up over parts of Luzon as Super Typhoon Rosal enters PAR

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was raised over some areas in Luzon after Super Typhoon Champi entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday morning and was given the local name Rosal, the state weather bureau PAGASA announced.

PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over the following areas in Luzon:
• Batanes;
• the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Camiguin Is., Didicas Is.);
• the eastern portion of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Santa Teresita, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Buguey, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca);
• the northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, San Pablo, Cabagan, Santa Maria, Tumauini, Ilagan City); and
• the northeastern portion of Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto).

The super typhoon entered PAR at 10:40 a.m.

At 10 a.m. while it was still outside PAR, Champi had maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 230 kilometers per hour.

Rosal will generally move west northwestward until Wednesday, October 21, before moving generally northwestward until Friday morning, October 23, PAGASA said.

But on Friday, Rosal will begin to turn north northwestward to northward until it exits PAR that evening or early morning of Saturday, October 24.

Rosal is forecast to maintain its strength as a super typhoon and further intensification remains possible while it moves over the Philippine Sea, said PAGASA.

It is forecast to weaken into a typhoon on Thursday and may further weaken into a severe tropical storm on Saturday evening or morning of Sunday, October 25 while outside PAR due to unfavorable environment. —KG, GMA News