Batanes was placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal Number 2 as Super Typhoon ''Rosal'' moved closer over the sea east of Northern Luzon.

The state weather bureau also raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal number 1 over the areas of "Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the eastern portion of Isabela (Maconacon, Divilacan, Palanan, Santa Maria, Cabagan, Delfin Albano, Santo Tomas, Tumauini, San Pablo, Ilagan City, San Mariano, Dinapigue), Ilocos Norte, Apayao, and the northeastern portion of Catanduanes (Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto)".

''Rosal'' with maximum sustained winds of 205 kph and gustiness of up to 250 kph was last spotted at 725 km east of Aparri, Cagayan while moving west northwestward at the speed of 25 kph.

On the forecast track, the tropical cyclone will be closest to extreme Northern Luzon between tomorrow afternoon and Friday morning.

Rosal is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday evening or Saturday (October 24) early morning.

The super typhoon is forecast to gradually weaken into a typhoon by Friday and will continue to weaken near Taiwan due to unfavorable conditions. Robina Asido/PHS