Rain eases in Batanes as Typhoon Rosal starts moving away

There may still be scattered rain and thunderstorms due to Typhoon Rosal (Champi), but PAGASA's forecast on Friday afternoon, October 23, shows weather conditions are gradually improving

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Rosal (Champi) is now less likely to bring significant rainfall to Batanes, the weather bureau said on Friday afternoon, October 23.

But scattered rain and thunderstorms can still hit Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Palawan, Masbate, the Visayas, the Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Occidental, Camiguin, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi in the next 24 hours, due to Rosal’s outer rainbands and the trough or extension of the typhoon.

Rosal was already 385 kilometers north northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, as of 4 pm on Friday. It is moving north northwest at 20 kilometers per hour (km/h), and is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Saturday morning, October 24.

So far, the typhoon has maximum sustained winds of 155 km/h and gustiness of up to 190 km/h. At its peak, Rosal was a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 215 km/h.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has yet to lift tropical cyclone wind signals for portions of Northern Luzon. These areas are still under wind signals as of 5 pm on Friday:

Signal No. 2

Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property

• Batanes

Signal No. 1

Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property

• northern part of Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-lo, Santa Teresita, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Buguey, Gattaran, Baggao, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan, Lasam) including Babuyan Islands
• northern part of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud, Adams, Bangui, Vintar, Burgos, Bacarra, Pasuquin, Carasi, Dumalneg)
• northern part of Apayao (Calanasan, Luna, Santa Marcela, Flora, Pudtol)

Rosal’s periphery or outer bands will also bring strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:

Friday, October 23

• most of Luzon and Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Occidental, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental

Saturday, October 24

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Aurora, northern Quezon, Polillo Islands, Bicol, Romblon, Capiz, Iloilo, Negros Occidental

Sunday, October 25

• Batanes, Babuyan Islands

Conditions have begun to improve in seaboards affected by the typhoon, but travel remains dangerous, especially in the country’s northernmost provinces.

Up to very rough or high seas (travel is risky for all vessels)

• Northern seaboard of Batanes – waves up to 7 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of Batanes – waves up to 6 meters high
• Seaboards of Babuyan Islands – waves up to 5.5 meters high
• Seaboard of Ilocos Norte; northern seaboard of mainland Cagayan – waves up to 5 meters high
• Seaboards of Isabela and northern Ilocos Sur; remaining seaboard of mainland Cagayan – waves up to 4.5 meters high

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Seaboards of northern La Union and northern Aurora; remaining seaboard of Ilocos Sur; northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; northeastern seaboards of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar; western seaboard of Pangasinan – waves up to 4 meters high
• Eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon; northern seaboards of Camarine Norte, Camarines Sur, and Northern Samar; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar – waves up to 3.5 meters high
• Seaboard of Zambales; eastern seaboards of Dinagat Islands and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands; northern seaboard of Kalayaan Islands – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate to rough seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Seaboard of Surigao del Sur; western seaboards of Bataan and Lubang Islands; remaining seaboards of La Union and Pangasinan – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Western seaboards of Batangas, Cavite, Occidental Mindoro, and Palawan including Calamian Islands; eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental; remaining seaboards of Lubang and Kalayaan Islands – waves up to 2 meters high

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After Rosal’s exit from PAR, it may weaken into a severe tropical storm by Sunday morning, October 25.

Rosal, which entered PAR on Tuesday, October 20, is the Philippines’ 18th tropical cyclone for 2026, and the first for October. PAGASA earlier estimated the country may have one or two tropical cyclones during the month.

The Philippines is currently in a transition period to the northeast monsoon or amihan, following the end of the southwest monsoon or habagat, which was announced last October 5.

The northeast monsoon typically brings surges of cold temperatures, but the upcoming amihan period could be warmer as the existing strong El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean is predicted to become very strong in the fourth quarter of 2026. – Rappler.com