Typhoon Rosal — known internationally as Champi — was losing intensity Thursday night as it crept northwestward over waters east of Batanes, with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) projecting its departure from the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) between Friday evening and the early hours of Saturday.
Position and Wind Parameters
Tropical Cyclone Bulletin No. 11, released by PAGASA at 11:00 PM on Thursday, October 22, 2026, placed Rosal's center roughly 305 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, at coordinates 21.4°N, 124.7°E, as of 10:00 PM that evening.
PAGASA reported that the typhoon was sustaining maximum winds of 155 km/h near the center, with gusts reaching up to 190 km/h and a central pressure of 945 hPa. The storm was crawling northwestward at 10 km/h, with its tropical cyclone wind field extending up to 900 kilometers outward from the center.
Active Wind Signals
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 was in force over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Babuyan Islands — covering Babuyan, Panuitan, Calayan, and Camiguin islands — where gale-force winds of 62 to 88 km/h (Beaufort Scale 8 to 9) posed a minor to moderate threat to life and property, according to PAGASA.
TCWS No. 1 was raised over the remaining sections of Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, the northeastern portion of Isabela (municipalities of Maconacon, Divilacan, Santa Maria, Cabagan, San Pablo, and Palanan), Ilocos Norte, and Apayao, where strong winds of 39 to 61 km/h carried a minimal to minor threat assessment.
PAGASA noted that the highest wind signal likely to be hoisted during Rosal's passage was TCWS No. 3 over Batanes, though the agency added that a more north-northwestward track would reduce the likelihood of that signal being raised.
Strong Gusts to Affect Luzon and Visayas Through Saturday
The outer rainbands of Rosal, combined with the prevailing northeasterly windflow, were already generating strong to gale-force gusts across most of Luzon and Visayas on Thursday, October 22, as well as parts of Mindanao — including Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Sarangani — the bulletin stated.
On Friday, October 23, PAGASA forecast similar wind conditions for most of Luzon and Visayas, Davao Region, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Camiguin. By Saturday, October 24, the agency listed Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Polillo Islands, Bicol Region, Romblon, Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental among areas still expected to experience strong to gale-force gusts. PAGASA flagged coastal and upland areas exposed to prevailing wind directions as particularly at risk.
Hazardous Sea Conditions Off Northern Luzon
PAGASA's 24-hour sea outlook warned of very rough to very high seas along northern Philippine coastal waters. Wave heights of up to 12.0 meters were forecast off the northern and eastern seaboards of Batanes, while waves reaching up to 9.0 meters were expected around Babuyan Islands, other seaboards of Batanes, and the northeastern coast of mainland Cagayan.
Waves of up to 7.0 meters were forecast off the remaining seaboards of mainland Cagayan and northern Isabela, and up to 6.0 meters along the northern coast of Ilocos Norte and the rest of Isabela. Rough to moderate sea conditions were also forecast across a wider arc covering Aurora, Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte and Sur, and the eastern seaboards of Dinagat Islands and Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands, according to the bulletin.
PAGASA directed all mariners in very rough to very high sea zones to remain in port or seek safe anchorage immediately, warning that sea travel was dangerous for all vessel types and tonnages. Operators of small craft and motorbancas were advised against venturing out in rough seas, and those in moderate-to-rough zones were urged to take precautionary measures and avoid navigation where possible.
A separate Gale Warning — Gale Warning No. 5, issued at 5:00 PM Thursday — remained in effect over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, PAGASA said.
Projected Track: Northward Recurvature and Continued Weakening
In its track and intensity forecast, PAGASA projected Rosal at 285 kilometers northeast of Itbayat by 8:00 AM Friday, October 23, still at typhoon category with maximum sustained winds of 150 km/h. By 8:00 PM Friday, the storm was forecast to be 405 kilometers north of Itbayat, weakening to 140 km/h.
By 8:00 AM Saturday, October 24, PAGASA forecast Rosal at 535 kilometers north of Itbayat — already outside PAR — downgraded to a severe tropical storm with winds of 110 km/h. By 8:00 PM Saturday, the storm was projected at 745 kilometers north of Itbayat, further weakening to a tropical storm with 85 km/h sustained winds.
According to PAGASA, Rosal would continue on a generally northwestward path through Friday morning before turning north-northwestward by Friday afternoon and recurving north-northeastward by Saturday. The agency noted the storm's closest approach to extreme northern Luzon would fall between Thursday night and Friday morning.
PAGASA cautioned that heavy rainfall and strong winds may still affect areas outside the direct forecast track and the confidence cone, and that the track could still shift within forecast uncertainty margins. The public was directed to monitor heavy rainfall advisories and updates from local PAGASA Regional Services Division offices.
Safety Guidance
In the same bulletin, PAGASA advised the public and local disaster risk reduction and management offices to take all necessary steps to protect life and property. Residents in areas highly susceptible to storm hazards were directed to comply with evacuation orders and heed instructions from local authorities.
PAGASA scheduled the next tropical cyclone bulletin for 5:00 AM on Friday, October 23, 2026.
Source: breakingnewsnegor.com / Originally reported by PAGASA / DOST