By Cristina Arayata
MANILA – Tropical cyclone Rosal has weakened into a typhoon, the weather bureau said Thursday afternoon.
The cyclone packs maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometer per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 205 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
It was last located 350 km east of Itbayat, Batanes, moving northwestward at 15 kph.
Batanes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands remain under wind Signal No. 2 and will experience gale-force winds.
Strong winds will prevail in areas where Signal No. 1 is hoisted — rest of Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Santa Maria, Cabagan, San Pablo, Palanan), Ilocos Norte and Apayao.
Most of Luzon and Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands and Sarangani will experience gale-force gusts due to Rosal’s periphery and the northeasterly windflow.
Gale warning is in effect over the seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon.
Batanes and Cagayan will continue experiencing heavy rainfall due to Rosal.
Meanwhile, Rosal is forecast to weaken gradually within 24 hours, and expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday or Saturday, PAGASA said. (PNA)
