Cyclone Rosal (international name: Pakhar) has intensified into a tropical storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Sunday evening, Dec. 11.
Rosal, based on PAGASA’s latest bulletin, was last seen 570 kilometers (km) east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan or 580 km east of Aparri, Cagayan. It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph), gustiness of up to 80 kph, and is moving northeastward away from the Philippine landmass at 20 kph.
Less likely to bring heavy rains in PH
“Aside from rain showers caused by the trough of Rosal, the is less likely to bring heavy rains in the country throughout the forecast period,” said PAGASA.
Strong winds, however, may persist in Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, the northern and eastern portions of Cagayan, and the eastern portion of Isabela due to the northeast monsoon, locally known as “amihan,” that was enhanced by storm Rosal.
The weather disturbance, due to the monsoon surge, may weaken beginning late Monday, Dec. 12. The state weather bureau said it will eventually become a “post-tropical low” embedded along the edge of the monsoon surge by late Tuesday, Dec. 13 or Wednesday, Dec. 14.