Tracking Rosal’s Path Toward Extreme Northern Luzon

Philippine weather bureau PAGASA maintained gale warnings across the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of the Visayas on Wednesday as Super Typhoon Rosal accelerated over the Philippine Sea. As of 5:00 am local time on Wednesday, forecasters tracked Rosal's eye roughly 990 kilometers east of Northern Luzon. Meteorological models project the powerful cyclone will track west-northwestward on Wednesday before shifting northwestward through Friday morning. Rosal is forecast to make its closest approach to Extreme Northern Luzon between Thursday and Friday afternoon before recurving northeastward over the weekend. If the storm maintains its current speed and trajectory, it should exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday evening or early Saturday morning, gradually weakening into a regular typhoon on Thursday and a severe tropical storm by Sunday.

Gusty Winds And Heavy Rain Forecast Across Islands

Even though the typhoon's core remains offshore, PAGASA warned residents that heavy outer rainbands could trigger localized flooding well outside the main forecast cone. Authorities kept Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 active across parts of Luzon on Wednesday and noted that Signal No. 2 or No. 3 could be raised as the storm nears the northern islands. Strong to gale-force wind gusts are buffeting the Ilocos Region, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Bohol, and parts of Mindanao on Wednesday. By Thursday, those blustery outer winds will spread across most of Luzon and the Visayas alongside coastal Mindanao provinces.

Mariners Ordered To Stay In Port Amid Eight-Meter Waves

The most severe immediate hazard involves treacherous marine conditions along the country's northern and eastern coastlines. PAGASA warned that violent seas could generate waves reaching up to eight meters off Batanes and the northern and eastern coasts of Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands. Waves measuring five to six meters are also battering the coastlines of Isabela, northern Aurora, and Catanduanes. Declaring sea travel extremely dangerous for all vessel types, authorities ordered commercial mariners to remain in port and prohibited small fishing boats and motorbancas from venturing out to sea. Follow severe weather alerts and breaking updates from across Asia and the Pacific. Check our world news section daily at The WAU.

Share This Post