Typhoon Rosal weakens as it leaves PH but heavy rains persist in Northern Luzon

Typhoon Rosal (international name Champi) has weakened as it moves northwestward away from the Philippine landmass.

Philippine weather bureau PAGASA reported in its 5:00 p.m. bulletin on Thursday (October 22, 2026), that while the storm is exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), active wind signals and heavy weather conditions persist across extreme Northern Luzon.

Latest Weather Status and Local Warnings (Philippines)

Storm Location & Intensity: As of Thursday afternoon, Typhoon Rosal was located 350 kilometers east of Itbayat, Batanes.

It is currently packing maximum sustained winds of 165 kph near the center with gusts up to 205 kph, moving northwestward at 15 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals In Effect:Signal No. 2: Active over Batanes and the northeastern portion of the Babuyan Islands.Signal No. 1: In effect over the rest of the Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, eastern Isabela, Ilocos Norte, and Apayao.

Closest Approach and PAR Exit: Rosal will make its closest approach to extreme Northern Luzon between Thursday night and Friday morning (Oct. 23).

PAGASA projects the system will further weaken into a severe tropical storm before completely exiting the PAR by Friday evening or Saturday morning (Oct. 24).

Rainfall and Landslide Risks: Heavy downpours remain a threat, with rainfall expected to be heaviest over high-elevation and mountainous areas.

Local disaster officers remain on alert due to heightened risks of flash floods and rain-induced landslides in saturated soil conditions. According to PAGASA's official Tropical Cyclone Bulletin (#10, issued at 5:00 PM, Oct. 22, 2026), here are the latest updates regarding Typhoon Rosal's movement and PAR exit status:

Movement and Track: Typhoon Rosal is currently moving northwestward at 15 km/h over the Philippine Sea. It is making its closest approach to Extreme Northern Luzon between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning (Oct. 23) before turning north-northwestward.

PAR Exit Status: PAGASA forecasts that Typhoon Rosal will officially exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) between Friday evening (Oct. 23) and Saturday early morning (Oct. 24).

Intensity Trend: Rosal is expected to maintain typhoon strength over the next 24 hours while gradually weakening. Rapid weakening is projected by Saturday as it recurves north-northeastward outside PAR, where it will likely be downgraded into a severe tropical storm.

Sea Hazards: Extremely rough to high seas remain over coastal waters, with wave heights reaching up to 12.0 meters along the northern and eastern seaboards of Batanes. A Gale Warning remains in effect over the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon.

Transport Disruptions and Regional Impact Across East Asia

Beyond the Philippines, the storm’s peripheral reach and track toward the Ryukyu Archipelago continue to cause severe travel disruptions and logistical adjustments across Taiwan and Japan:

Taiwan Air Travel: Taiwan’s transport ministry confirmed 125 canceled flights on Thursday, primarily impacting domestic routes.

Infrastructure and Safety: The national rail network continues to operate normally, and the interior ministry reported no residential evacuations so far.

Japan Flight Cancellations: Atmospheric disruptions have impacted major carriers—including Japan Airlines, ANA, and Skymark—forcing the cancellation of over 100 domestic flights through Sunday, disrupting travel for more than 11,000 passengers.

Forecast: The storm continues on a track passing near Yonaguni in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan’s westernmost inhabited island.

International Military Exercises Adjusted

Meanwhile, the storm has disrupted Exercise Keen Sword, a major biennial joint military exercise involving around 56,000 personnel from the U.S., Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and three partner nations.

Rehearsals—which include missile defense drills and amphibious landings near Japanese islands—are being adjusted daily by the U.S. military to ensure participant safety.

-RA Sibag/Paraluman News; Charm Carcueva/Philippine News Agency; Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee in Taipei and; Mariko Katsumura and Tim Kelly in Tokyo; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Christopher Cushing/Reuters