By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
After reaching peak intensity Wednesday, Typhoon Rosal greatly weakened over the past 18 hours and changed its movement as it hovered over the Philippine Sea east of Batanes.
According to PAGASA’s 5:00 p.m. bulletin Thursday, Rosal (international name: Champi) was last located 350 km east of Itbayat, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kph and gustiness of up to 205 kph as it moves northwestward at 15 kph.
Wind Signal No. 2 prevails over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands, with these areas expected to experience winds greater than 62 kph and up to 88 kph over the next 24 hours.
These areas remain under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1, which are expected to experience winds of 39-61 kph or intermittent rains over the next 36 hours:
- Apayao
- The rest of Babuyan Islands
- Cagayan
- Ilocos Norte
- Isabela
Meanwhile, the state weather bureau issued a Gale Warning advisory over the following coastal waters:
- 5.0-12.1 meter-high waves over the seaboards of Extreme Northern Luzon (Batanes)
- 3.7-9.0 meter-high waves over the seaboards of Extreme Northern Luzon (Babuyan Islands)
- 3.1-8.0 meter-high waves over the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Luzon (Mainland Cagayan)
- 2.8-6.0 meter-high waves over the remaining seaboards of Northern Luzon (Ilocos Norte and Isabela)
- 2.8-5.0 meter-high waves over the western seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon: Ilocos Sur {Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, Santo Domingo, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, City of Vigan, Caoayan, Santa, Narvacan, Santa Maria, San Esteban, Santiago, City of Candon}, Aurora {Dilasag, Casiguran}, the northern and eastern coasts of Polillo Islands {the northern coast of Panukulan, Burdeos, the eastern coast of Patnanungan, and Jomalig}, Camarines Norte {Paracale, Vinzons, Talisay, Daet, Mercedes}, Camarines Sur {Siruma, Garchitorena, Caramoan} and the northern and eastern coasts of Catanduanes {Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto, Baras}
These areas are expected to experience strong to gale-force winds and are deemed by PAGASA to be unsafe for any form of sea travel.
Rough seas are also expected over the following coastal waters:
- Up to 4.0 m: The seaboard of northern La Union; the western seaboard of Pangasinan; the northern seaboard of Northern Samar.
- Up to 3.5 m: The seaboard of Northern Quezon; the remaining seaboard of Aurora; the eastern seaboard of Albay, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, and Eastern Samar.
- Up to 3.0 m: The seaboard of Zambales; the eastern seaboard of Dinagat Islands and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands.
Typhoon Rosal will continue to move northwestward until Thursday morning, before turning north northwestward Friday and eventually exiting the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Friday evening or early Saturday morning.
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