Super Typhoon Champi, named Rosal by the Philippines, prompts Wind Signal No. 1 in parts of Luzon, PAGASA says

As of 7:26 a.m. ET, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026

Super Typhoon Champi, which the Philippines has given the local name Rosal, slightly intensified while moving west-northwestward over the Philippine Sea east of Central Luzon, with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 in effect over parts of northern and southern Luzon, the Philippine weather agency PAGASA said in its second bulletin on the storm, issued at 5 p.m. Tuesday Philippine time (5 a.m. ET). In its first bulletin, issued at 11 a.m. Tuesday Philippine time (11 p.m. ET Monday), PAGASA placed the storm outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility as of its 10 p.m. ET Monday position.

At 4 p.m. Philippine time (4 a.m. ET Tuesday), the center of the eye was estimated at 1,270 km (789 miles) east of Central Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h (121 mph) near the center, gusts of up to 240 km/h (149 mph) and a central pressure of 935 hPa, PAGASA said. The storm was moving west-northwestward at 25 km/h (16 mph), and strong to typhoon-force winds extended up to 780 km (485 miles) from the center, the agency said.

Signal No. 1 is in effect over Batanes; the Babuyan Islands; the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Pagudpud); the northern and eastern portions of mainland Cagayan (Santa Ana, Gonzaga, Lal-Lo, Santa Teresita, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Buguey, Gattaran, Baggao, Peñablanca, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Ballesteros, Abulug, Allacapan); the northeastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan); and the northeastern portion of Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto), according to the second bulletin. The signal warns of winds of 39 to 61 km/h (24 to 38 mph) with a 36-hour lead time, and PAGASA said minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible in those areas. The highest wind signal that may be raised during Rosal's passage is Signal No. 2 or 3, PAGASA said.

PAGASA said Rosal will move generally west-northwestward until Wednesday, Oct. 21, then generally northwestward until Friday morning, Oct. 23, and that on the forecast track it will be closest to extreme northern Luzon between Thursday, Oct. 22, and Friday. It will begin to turn north-northwestward to northward by Friday afternoon and leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday evening or early Saturday, Oct. 24, local time, the agency said. The bulletin's forecast track places the center 560 km (348 miles) east of Basco, Batanes, at 2 a.m. Thursday Philippine time (2 p.m. ET Wednesday), 425 km (264 miles) east of Basco at 2 p.m. Thursday Philippine time (2 a.m. ET Thursday), and 375 km (233 miles) east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, at 2 a.m. Friday Philippine time (2 p.m. ET Thursday). Rosal is forecast to stay a super typhoon, and further strengthening is possible over the Philippine Sea; it is forecast to gradually weaken into a typhoon on Thursday evening or early Friday, PAGASA said.

PAGASA issued Weather Advisory No. 1 on the heavy rainfall outlook at 5 p.m. Tuesday Philippine time, and a gale warning is in effect over the seaboard of extreme northern Luzon and the eastern seaboards of northern and southern Luzon under Gale Warning No. 1, issued at the same time, the agency said. The northeasterly windflow and the edge of the storm will bring strong to gale-force gusts to parts of the country, extending to most of the country on Thursday, PAGASA said. Its next bulletin is due at 11 p.m. Tuesday Philippine time (11 a.m. ET).

GROKsiNEWS.com earlier covered Champi's passage near Guam.