5 areas under signal 2 as Rosita churns towards Luzon

MANILA - Typhoon Rosita roared closer towards Luzon on Monday, threatening the region with floods, storm surges and landslides, the weather bureau said, as it upgraded storm signals.

At 4 a.m., Rosita was spotted 540 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 170 kilometers per hour and 210 kph gusts, said PAGASA.

The typhoon slightly weakened, but could still cause damage to property. It is expected to hit land in the Isabela-Aurora area early Tuesday, PAGASA meteorologist Meno Mendoza told radio DZMM.

Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora and Quirino provinces, as well as Polillo Island, were placed under signal 2.

These areas may be whipped by up to 120 kph winds that can topple banana trees, rip off the roofs of nipa and cogon houses, and damage rice and corn crops, warned PAGASA.

Signal 1, meanwhile, was raised over the following areas, which could experience up to 60 kph winds.

• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Abra
• Apayao
• Benguet
• Ifugao
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Batanes
• Babuyan Group of Islands
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Nueva Ecija
• Pampanga
• Tarlac
• Northern Quezon
• Rizal
• Bulacan
• Metro Manila
• Laguna
• Batangas
• Bataan
• Zambales
• Cavite and Camarines Norte

Strong to very strong winds are expected to affect the eastern sections of northern and Central Luzon starting Monday, said Mendoza.

Storm surges are also possible over the coastal areas of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, and Aurora, added PAGASA.

Rosita will leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday if it continues moving west southwest at 15 kph, Mendoza said.

However, the typhoon's outer bands may drench large parts of the country until All Saints' Day, Nov. 1, as millions of Filipino Catholics troop to cemeteries to honor their dead, the weather agency earlier said.

• Rosita rains to persist until All Saints' Day

Northern Luzon in September bore the brunt of typhoon Ompong's onslaught, which swamped farmlands and unleashed landslides that killed at least 75 people.

Rosita has forced the cancellation of Monday's classes in several northern areas.

• #WalangPasok: Oktubre 29, Lunes - Oktubre 31, Miyerkoles

As Yutu, Rosita struck US islands in the Pacific last week, causing blackouts and massive infrastructure damage.

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