LPA now tropical depression Rosal; Signal No. 1 in Catanduanes, Cam Sur, Albay

THE low pressure area east of Sorsogon has intensified and is now tropical depression Rosal.

Rosal may bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over the Bicol Region and Quezon, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration.

Moderate to heavy rains are possible over MIMAROPA and Western Visayas, while light to moderate with at times heavy rains are likely over Aurora and the rest of CALABARZON and Visayas, Pagasa said.

Flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected, especially in areas that are highly or highly susceptible to these as identified in hazard maps, as well as in localities with significant antecedent rainfall, it said.

Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1 has been raised over Catanduanes, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur, and the eastern portion of Albay.

It may get stronger

Rosal is expected to intensify while moving over the Philippine Sea, and may become stronger and develop into a tropical storm in the next 24 hours, according to the state weather bureau.

But due to the interaction with the Northeast Monsoon, it may weaken into a tropical depression on Monday and dissipate by Tuesday.

Rosal is moving northwestward at 20 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 55 kilometers per hour, as per Pagasa’s 11 a.m. update.

Gale warning

The state weather bureau also raised a gale warning over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, particularly Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Pangasinan.

Sea conditions will be rough to very rough and waves may reach up to five meters.

The combined effects of the surge of the Northeast Monsoon and Rosal may also bring moderate to rough seas over the seaboard of Central Luzon and the eastern and western seaboards of Southern Luzon.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft are advised not to venture out to sea, while larger sea vessels are alerted against big waves.

Leila Salaverria

She is a longtime journalist who has written about politics, legislation, the judiciary, health, and human rights. She produced news and feature stories and investigative reports for the country’s top broadsheet.