Authorities raised an early warning for some northern and southern Luzon areas as Super Typhoon ‘Rosal’ (international name: Champi) moved closer to the country on Oct. 20, Tuesday, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
In a bulletin, the weather bureau said Rosal’s center winds could reach 185 kilometers per hour (kph) and these may be felt within 36 hours.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is up in the following:
+Batanes
+The eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Island, Camiguin Island, Didicas Island)
+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)
+The northeastern portion of Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto)
Meanwhile, the bureau said a gale warning may be issued within the day, in particular off Catanduanes where waves could reach up to 4.5 meters.
PAGASA said ‘Rosal’ will advance northwestward within 36 hours. It added that the typhoon may be outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility between Friday evening and Saturday morning.
In a press conference, the bureau’s Climate Monitoring chief, Ana Liza Solis, said the storm pattern is “unusual” from typhoons that occurred in past El Niño episodes.
“At this time of the year, supposed to be [may] mga landfalling and crossing ng mga bagyo,” she said. “Pero ngayon, nakikita natin na may mga recurbing din na mga bagyo.”
[Translation: At this time of the year, storms supposedly hit or cross land. But now, some are recurbing.]
Solis noted that shifting troughs, or low pressure extension, is another characteristic of a typhoon during El Niño.
PAGASA weather specialist Samuel Duran said that other parts of the country may even have less rainfall despite the typhoon.
