MANILA - Typhoon Rosita (international name: Yutu) has weakened into a severe tropical storm as it continued on its track towards the West Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said Tuesday night.
Rosita exited La Union and was last spotted 145 kilometers northwest of Dagupan City, Pangasinan. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kms per hour and gusts of up to 135 kph.
It had approached the Philippine land mass over the weekend at maximum sustained winds of up to 200 kph and gusts of up to 245 kph.
Rosita picked up speed and is now moving west at 30 kph. It is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility by Wednesday afternoon.
In its 8 p.m. update, PAGASA placed the following areas under tropical cyclone warning signal No. 2:
Pangasinan
La Union
Benguet
Ilocos Sur
Tropical cyclone warning signal No. 1, which warns of winds ranging from 30 to 60 kph, is up in the following areas:
Abra
Ifugao
Mountain Province
Nueva Vizcaya
Nueva Ecija
Tarlac
Zambales
Kalinga
Ilocos Norte
PAGASA said moderate to heavy rains directly associated with the severe tropical storm could pour over northern and central Luzon, as it advised residents in these areas, especially those living near river channels, low-lying and mountainous areas, to prepare and take appropriate action against possible flooding and landslides.
It also asked fisherfolk and those with small seacraft not to venture out over the seaboards of areas with typhoon signals and the eastern and western seaboards of southern Luzon.
Visit the ABS-CBN Weather Center for the latest weather updates.
weather, weather top, Rosita, Yutu, RositaPH, PAGASA, typhoon, La Union, Benguet