The track of Typhoon Yutu as shown on state weather bureau PAGASA's website. Screen grab from PAGASA website
MANILA -- (UPDATE) Typhoon Rosita (Yutu) maintained its strength, on course to slam into northeastern Luzon ahead of the All Souls' Day rush, the state weather bureau said Sunday.
Rosita will likely hit the Cagayan-Isabela area on Tuesday morning. It will stir moderate to heavy rains in Northern and Central Luzon as early as Monday afternoon, PAGASA said.
"Flooding and landslides are possible. Travel by land and sea is risky," PAGASA said. Storm surges are possible in coastal areas of Cagayan and Isabela, it said.
Public storm warning signals may be raised by Sunday evening, the weather bureau said. The lowest warning, signal number 1, could be raised in Metro Manila on Monday.
Strong to very strong winds will hit the eastern coast of Northern and Central Luzon from Tuesday morning, PAGASA said. Sea travel will be "risky" over the northern and eastern seaboards of Luzon and the Samar provinces, it said.
Rosita was spotted 875 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan at 11 a.m. Sunday, packing maximum sustained winds of 200 kph with 245 kph gusts, and mowing west at 20 kph, PAGASA said.
It was forecast to be at 460 km east northeast of Casiguran, Aurora by Monday morning, in the vicinity of San Mariano, Isabela by Tuesday morning, 200 km west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur by Wednesday morning and outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday morning, PAGASA said.
Powerful typhoon Ompong lashed Luzon in late September, inundating farmlands and triggering landslides that killed at least 75 people.
Rosita is projected to hit land 2 days before the All Saint's Day and All Soul's Day holidays, when millions of Filipinos are expected to troop to cemeteries to offer flowers and prayers for their loved ones.
As Yutu, Rosita struck US islands in the Pacific last week, causing blackouts and massive infrastructure damage.
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