Rosal weakens; Batanes, portion of Babuyan Islands still under Signal No. 2

Rosal (international name: Champi) has weakened into a typhoon but Signal No. 2 remains hoisted over several areas on Thursday, according to state weather bureau PAGASA.

In its 5 p.m. cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said that Rosal is currently located 350 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes. Rosal is packing maximum sustained winds of 165 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 205 km/h.

Moving northwestward at 15 km/h, Rosal is forecast to be closest to extreme Northern Luzon between this Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. PAGASA said that Rosal will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday evening or Saturday morning.

PAGASA has hoisted the following signal warnings:

Signal No. 2

• Batanes
• Northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands

Signal No. 1

• The rest of Babuyan Islands
• Mainland Cagayan
• Northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Santa Maria, Cabagan, San Pablo, Palanan)
• Ilocos Norte
• Apayao

PAGASA said that Rosal and the Northeasterly Windflow can also bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas within the day: Most of Luzon and Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Sarangani.

The state weather bureau also issued a heavy rainfall advisory due to Rosal. Both Batanes and Cagayan are expected to experience 50 mm to 100 mm of rain from Thursday to Friday

In its 4 p.m. weather bulletin, PAGASA said that Batanes could expect stormy weather due to Rosal. Rosal is also expected to cause rains and gusty winds in Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Cagayan, and Isabela.

The rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Aurora could also expect overcast weather with scattered rains due to the cyclone.

Bicol Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Palawan could also expect cloudy skies and rain due to Rosal’s trough. —LDF, GMA News