Super Typhoon Rosal (Champi) enters the Philippines area, Signal No. 1 raised in five Luzon areas
The storm entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility at 10:40am on Tuesday with 185 km/h winds. PAGASA does not expect landfall, but strong winds and rough seas will reach northern Luzon and Batanes.
At a glance
- Super Typhoon Champi entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility at 10:40am on Tuesday, October 20, and was named 'Rosal'.
- At 11am it was 1,385km east of Central Luzon with sustained winds of 185 km/h and gusts of 230 km/h, moving west-northwest at 25 km/h.
- Signal No. 1 is up in Batanes, the eastern Babuyan Islands, eastern mainland Cagayan, northeastern Isabela and northeastern Catanduanes.
- PAGASA does not expect landfall; the storm should pass east and northeast of Batanes and leave the area on Friday night, October 23, or early Saturday.
Super Typhoon Champi entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 10:40am on Tuesday, October 20, and was given the local name "Rosal", the state weather agency PAGASA said. Wind signals are now up in parts of northern Luzon, although forecasters do not expect the storm to make landfall.
Rosal at a glance (11am, October 20)
| Local name | Rosal (international name Champi) |
| Entered PAR | 10:40am, Tuesday, October 20 |
| Position | 1,385km east of Central Luzon |
| Maximum sustained winds | 185 km/h |
| Gusts | Up to 230 km/h |
| Movement | West-northwest at 25 km/h |
| Landfall | Not expected |
| Expected to leave PAR | Friday night, October 23, or early Saturday, October 24 |
Earlier on Tuesday the storm was packing winds of 195 km/h. It remains at super typhoon strength and could strengthen again over the Philippine Sea before weakening later in the week.
Signal No. 1 areas
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 — meaning strong winds of 39–61 km/h are possible within 36 hours — has been raised over:
- Batanes
- Eastern Babuyan Islands (Babuyan, Camiguin and Didicas)
- Eastern mainland Cagayan
- Northeastern Isabela
- Northeastern Catanduanes
PAGASA said the highest signal may now reach No. 2 or 3, lower than its earlier projection of No. 3 or 4, because the strongest winds are expected to stay over the sea.
Forecast track
| Time | Expected position |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, 8pm | 1,175km east of Central Luzon |
| Wednesday, 8pm | 660km east of Basco, Batanes |
| Friday, 8am | 360km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes |
| Friday night–Saturday | Leaves the PAR, turning north |
Rosal is forecast to move west until Wednesday, then northwest until Friday morning, before turning north-northwest to north. It is expected to weaken to a typhoon on Thursday, October 22, and to a severe tropical storm by the weekend.
Who should watch out
Even without landfall, PAGASA warns that rain and strong winds can affect areas far from the centre:
- Batanes, Cagayan and Isabela: gusty winds and rough to very rough seas as the storm passes.
- Catanduanes, Northern Samar and Eastern Samar: scattered rain and thunderstorms from the storm's outer bands, with possible flash floods and landslides.
- Fishermen and small boats should not go to sea once rough conditions are forecast.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development says it has more than 4.5 million family food packs ready, along with about 345,000 non-food items and 205,000 ready-to-eat packs.
What is a super typhoon?
PAGASA calls a storm a super typhoon when its sustained winds reach 185 km/h or more. The Philippines faces about 20 tropical cyclones a year, and October and November are among the most dangerous months.
Safety advice
- Follow PAGASA bulletins and local government announcements.
- Keep an emergency kit with water, food, medicines, a torch, a power bank and important documents.
- Coastal and landslide-prone communities should be ready to move if told to.
What happens next
PAGASA will issue bulletins every few hours. Travellers using northern Luzon ports and domestic flights to Batanes should check for cancellations through Friday.
Questions people are asking
Where is Typhoon Rosal now?
At 11am on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, Super Typhoon Rosal (Champi) was 1,385km east of Central Luzon, moving west-northwest at 25 km/h with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h and gusts of 230 km/h.
Will Typhoon Rosal make landfall in the Philippines?
PAGASA does not expect a landfall. It forecasts the storm to move west, then northwest, passing east and northeast of Batanes before leaving the Philippine area on Friday night or early Saturday. The track can still shift.
Which areas are under Signal No. 1 for Rosal?
Batanes, the eastern Babuyan Islands (Babuyan, Camiguin and Didicas), the eastern part of mainland Cagayan, northeastern Isabela and northeastern Catanduanes. PAGASA says the highest signal may reach No. 2 or 3.
