‘Rosal’ weakens further, likely to be downgraded to tropical storm by Saturday

MANILA – Typhoon Rosal continued to weaken while slowing down as it heads northwestward over the east of Batanes on Thursday night, according to PAGASA. 

In a report issued 11 p.m., the state weather bureau said Batanes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands remain under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 due to Rosal.

Meanwhile, the rest of Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, the northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Santa Maria, Cabagan, San Pablo, Palanan), Ilocos Norte, and Apayao are under Wind Signal No. 1.

The center of Rosal was last seen at 305 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, moving northwestward at 10 kph. 

It has maximum sustained winds of 155 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 190 kph.

PAGASA said the highest wind signal that may be raised during the passage of Rosal is wind signal no. 3, which is likely to be hoisted over Batanes.

But this will become unlikely if Rosal moves a more north northwestward track.

The weather disturbance may be downgraded into a severe tropical storm by Saturday morning and is likely to weaken further into a tropical storm by evening.

PAGASA said Rosal will continue moving generally northwestward until Friday morning. It will begin to turn north northwestward by Friday afternoon before recurving north northeastward by Saturday.

On the forecast track, the tropical cyclone will be closest to Extreme Northern Luzon between Thursday night and Friday morning. 

Rosal is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday evening or Saturday early morning.