Heavy rainfall, flood warnings up over parts of northern Luzon even as Rosal weakens

MANILA — PAGASA on Thursday afternoon issued heavy rainfall and flood warnings for some parts of northern Luzon even as it announced that Rosal had already weakened into a typhoon.

At 4 p.m. Thursday, typhoon Rosal was located 350 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes, packing winds of 165 kph.

While Rosal is slowly moving away from Batanes, PAGASA still issued a heavy rainfall warning for the northernmost province, which could receive 100-200 mm of rains from Thursday to Friday afternoon.

Cagayan may experience 50-100 mm of rains during the same period due to Rosal, the weather service said.

PAGASA noted that forecast rainfall could be higher in mountainous and elevated areas and stressed that impacts in some areas may be worsened by antecedent rainfall.

The weather agency also warned that light to moderate rains could spawn floods near river systems in Batanes, Cagayan and Ilocos Norte.

It advised residents near low-lying areas as well as local disaster officials to take necessary precautionary measures.

Wind Signal No. 2 is still in effect over Batanes and northeastern Babuyan Islands, where stormy conditions may prevail through Friday morning. 

Signal No. 1 is up over Cagayan and the rest of Babuyan, eastern Isabela, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.

Rains and gusty winds may still be experienced over parts of Northern Luzon through Friday morning while scattered rains from the typhoon’s trough or extension may affect Palawan and the western sections of Visayas and Mindanao.

Rosal will continue to move northwestward toward northern Taiwan and exit the Philippine area of responsibility Friday evening or Saturday early morning.