‘Rosita’ weakens as it passes Northern Luzon; en route to West PH Sea

Pagasa Weather Satellite image

Typhoon “Rosita” (international name: Yutu) has weakened after it crossed the rugged terrain of Northern Luzon, the state weather bureau on Tuesday said.

In its 5 p.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said only Pangasinan and La Union remain under Signal No. 3 while Abra, Ilocos Sur, Benguet, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Zambales have now been placed under Signal No. 2.

Signal No. 1, meanwhile, is now lifted in provinces of Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Kalinga, Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas as well as Metro Manila.

According to Pagasa, Rosita exited La Union around 2 p.m. and was last located 125 kilometers (km) northwest of Dagupan City in Pangasinan province around 4 p.m. Tuesday. The typhoon packs maximum sustained winds of 125 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 190 kph as it moves west-northwest at a speed of 25 kph.

The state weather bureau said Rosita is currently negotiating its way toward the West Philippine Sea and could likely exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Wednesday afternoon.

Rosita hit land in Dinapigue, Isabela around 4 a.m. Tuesday. It then went through Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, La Union, and Pangasinan, Pagasa said. /kga