Rosal Declared Strongest Cyclone So Far This Year
Super Typhoon Rosal reached sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour on Tuesday evening, Oct. 20, with gusts of up to 265 kph, the state weather bureau said.
State weather forecasters have declared Super Typhoon Rosal as the “strongest” tropical cyclone so far this year as it reached its peak.
Rosal reached sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour on Tuesday evening, Oct. 20, with gusts of up to 265 kph, weather specialist Benison Estareja said on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
In its 5 a.m. advisory today, Oct. 22, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said Rosal slightly weakened as it continued to move northwestward over the Philippine Sea east of Batanes.
As of 4 a.m., its center was 495 km East of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 195 kph and gustiness of up to 240 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 remains raised over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands and Signal No. 1 over the rest of Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, the eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Santa Maria, Cabagan, Delfin Albano, Santo Tomas, Tumauini, San Pablo, Ilagan City, San Mariano, Dinapigue), Ilocos Norte, and Apayao.
“Rosal will continue moving northwestward until tomorrow morning (Oct. 23). It will begin to turn north northwestward by tomorrow afternoon before recurving north northeastward by Saturday (Oct. 24). On the forecast track, the tropical cyclone will be closest to extreme Northern Luzon between this afternoon and tomorrow morning. It will exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by tomorrow evening or Saturday early morning,” PAGASA said.
“Rosal will continue to gradually weaken and may be downgraded into a typhoon within the day. By Saturday, the tropical cyclone will begin to rapidly weaken and may be downgraded into a severe tropical storm,” it added.
On Wednesday, Signal No. 2 was hoisted in Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, eastern portion of Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Apayao and the northeastern portion of Catanduanes.
Experts warned that wind signal No. 3 is still expected to be raised in the next few days.
Malacañang gave assurance that the social welfare, health and environment departments are ready for Rosal.
“If there are heavy rains in your area, it may be an opportunity to collect rain water if your place is experiencing a dry spell,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said on Wednesday. – With Alexis Romero
