Super Typhoon Rosal — known internationally as Champi — continued to gain strength Tuesday afternoon, October 20, 2026, as it barreled west-northwestward across the Philippine Sea east of Central Luzon. The storm carried maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h and gusts of up to 240 km/h, according to DOST-PAGASA's Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No. 2 released at 5:00 PM.
PAGASA reported that as of 4:00 PM Tuesday, Rosal's eye was positioned 1,270 kilometers east of Central Luzon at coordinates 16.6°N, 134.0°E, with a central pressure of 935 hPa. Tropical cyclone-force winds extended as far as 780 kilometers from the storm's center.
Projected Path: Nearest to Extreme Northern Luzon by Thursday or Friday
According to PAGASA, Rosal is expected to maintain a generally west-northwestward heading through Wednesday, October 21, then gradually turn northwestward through Friday morning, October 23. The agency said the storm's closest approach to Extreme Northern Luzon is forecast between Thursday, October 22, and Friday, October 23.
PAGASA further projected that Rosal will curve north-northwestward to northward by Friday afternoon and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday evening or early Saturday morning, October 24.
The agency's 96-hour forecast places the storm's center roughly 725 kilometers north-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes by 2:00 PM Saturday, October 24 — already outside PAR — with maximum sustained winds having dropped to 130 km/h, downgrading it to the Typhoon category.
Storm Expected to Peak Before Gradual Weakening Sets In
PAGASA said Rosal is forecast to retain super typhoon intensity and may strengthen further while traversing the Philippine Sea. The storm is projected to reach peak winds of 205 km/h by 2:00 AM Wednesday before beginning a gradual weakening trend, slipping to the Typhoon category by Thursday evening or the early hours of Friday, October 23.
The agency's 12-hour forecast positions Rosal 1,045 kilometers east of Northern Luzon at 2:00 AM Wednesday with winds of 205 km/h. By 2:00 PM Wednesday, PAGASA said the system is expected to be 800 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, still carrying 205 km/h winds while advancing west-northwestward at 25 km/h.
Wind Signal No. 1 Now in Effect for Several Northern Luzon Areas
As of the 5:00 PM bulletin, PAGASA placed multiple areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1. These include Batanes, Babuyan Islands, the northern portion of Ilocos Norte specifically Pagudpud, and select towns in the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan — among them Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Santa Teresita, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Buguey, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Ballesteros, Abulug, and Allacapan.
Signal No. 1 likewise covers the northeastern portion of Isabela, comprising Maconacon, Divilacan, and Palanan, as well as the northeastern portion of Catanduanes — specifically Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, and Gigmoto. PAGASA noted that Signal No. 1 carries a 36-hour warning lead time with expected winds of 39 to 61 km/h (Beaufort Scale 6 to 7), posing a minimal to minor threat to life and property.
The agency added that the highest wind signal likely to be raised throughout Rosal's passage is Wind Signal No. 2 or 3.
Gusty Conditions to Spread Across the Country Through Thursday
PAGASA warned that even beyond formally signalled areas, the interaction of the northeasterly windflow with the outer bands of Rosal will produce strong to gale-force gusts in coastal and elevated localities over the coming days.
On Tuesday, October 20, gusty conditions were expected across Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, most of Caraga, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Sarangani, Davao del Sur, and Davao Occidental.
The affected zone widens considerably on Wednesday, October 21, to encompass the Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, Polillo Islands, Bicol Region, Romblon, Eastern Visayas, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Bohol, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, Davao Region, Sarangani, and Zamboanga del Norte, PAGASA said.
By Thursday, October 22, the agency projected that gusty conditions would extend over most of the country.
Gale Warning Raised; Very Rough Seas Off Northern and Eastern Luzon
PAGASA issued Gale Warning No. 1 at 5:00 PM Tuesday, covering the seaboard of Extreme Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of both Northern and Southern Luzon.
Under the agency's 24-hour sea condition outlook, wave heights of up to 4.5 meters — classified as very rough seas — are expected off the northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes, the seaboard of Isabela, the northeastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan, the southeastern seaboard of Batanes, and the northeastern seaboard of the Babuyan Islands. PAGASA declared sea travel risky for all vessel types in these waters and ordered all mariners to remain in port or seek safe harbor without delay.
Rough seas reaching up to 4.0 meters are anticipated off the northern and eastern seaboards of Batanes, the remaining seaboards of Babuyan Islands and mainland Cagayan, the northern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur, the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar and Eastern Samar, and the eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon. Waves of up to 3.5 meters are forecast off Polillo Islands and the northern seaboard of Aurora, the agency added.
PAGASA specifically advised operators of small seacrafts and all types of motorbancas to stay ashore under rough sea conditions, especially those with limited experience or inadequately equipped vessels.
Public and DRRM Offices Urged to Take Protective Measures
In its bulletin, DOST-PAGASA called on the public and all disaster risk reduction and management offices to implement the necessary steps to safeguard lives and property. Residents in areas deemed highly or very highly susceptible to typhoon-related hazards were instructed to comply with evacuation orders and other directives from local officials.
The agency also cautioned that heavy rainfall and strong winds may affect localities outside the typhoon's landfall point and forecast confidence cone, and that the projected track may still shift within the bounds of the forecast cone. PAGASA directed the public to monitor heavy rainfall warnings and thunderstorm advisories from their respective local PAGASA Regional Services Division offices.
A separate Weather Advisory No. 1, also released at 5:00 PM Tuesday, covers the heavy rainfall outlook associated with Rosal. PAGASA scheduled the next Tropical Cyclone Bulletin for 11:00 PM on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Source: DOST-PAGASA / breakingnewsnegor.com