Rosal intensifies into tropical storm

Tropical Depression Rosal has intensified into a tropical storm as of Sunday evening, PAGASA reported in its 11 p.m. bulletin.

According to the state weather bureau, Rosal is expected to bring occasional gusts reaching gale-force over the areas of Batanes and the Babuyan Islands.

It is also expected to bring strong winds to near-gale strength over Ilocos Norte, the northern and eastern portions of Cagayan, and the eastern portion of Isabela.

“Aside from the rainshowers caused by the trough of Rosal, the tropical depression is less likely to bring heavy rains in the country throughout the forecast period,” PAGASA said.

The center of Rosal was last estimated 570 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City in Cagayan, or 580 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan.

It was moving northeastward at 20 kilometers per hour, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 80 kilometers per hour.

No tropical cyclone wind signals have yet been raised.

Over the weekend, parts of Quezon and Camarines Norte saw heavy rains and flooding due to the weather system. In Oscar Oida's report on 24 Oras on Sunday, the streets of Lopez and Tagkawayan in Quezon were flooded, with traffic snarled, and rain was nonstop in Daet, Camarines Norte on Saturday night.

Sea trips were also canceled in many areas in the Bicol Region, with passengers stranded at the ports.

PAGASA warned that it may be risky for small seacraft to set sail, with moderate to rough seas over the seaboards of Central Luzon, and the eastern and western seaboards of southern Luzon possible in the next 24 hours.

“Mariners are advised to take precautionary measures when venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigating in these conditions,” it said.

Rosal is expected to move generally northeastward or east northeastward until Tuesday morning, before turning in a general southeastward direction.

“Increasing unfavorable conditions associated within the monsoon surge by late tomorrow will result in a weakening trend,” PAGASA said.

Moving forward, Rosal could be categorized as a post-tropical low embedded along the leading edge of the monsoon surge by late Tuesday or Wednesday. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA Integrated News