Tropical depression Rosal may intensify into a “low-end” tropical storm in 24 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Sunday, Dec. 11.
The said weather disturbance continues to move away from the Philippine landmass. PAGASA’s latest bulletin issued at 11 a.m. showed that its center was last spotted 420 kilometers (km) east of Casiguran, Aurora or 455 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
It has maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 70 kph. It is moving east northeastward at 15 kph.
“In the near term, Rosal may still intensify into a low-end tropical storm within 24 hours. However, increasingly unfavorable conditions associated with the monsoon surge by late Monday, will result in a weakening trend,” said the state weather bureau.
Rosal may weaken into a low pressure area on late Tuesday, Dec. 13 or Wednesday. Dec. 14.
Heavy rains, strong winds
Although it is now moving away from the Philippine landmass, Rosal is still bringing rains in several parts of the country.
These areas include CALABARZON, the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian Islands, Oriental MIndoro, Occidental Mindoro, and Marinduque.
“Flooding and rain-induced landslides are still possible in some areas, especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards,” PAGASA added.
Occasional gusts to gale-force winds, on the other hand, may be experienced in Batanes and Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, the northern and eastern portions of Cagayan, the eastern portion of Isabela, Calaguas Islands, and the extreme portion of Catanduanes due to the Rosal-enhanced northeast monsoon, locally known as “amihan.”