Super Typhoon Champi Puts Batanes Under Signal No. 2

Super Typhoon Champi put Batanes under Signal No. 2 on Wednesday, October 21, as the storm, known locally as Rosal, crossed the waters east of Northern Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 215 kph and gusts to 265 kph. PAGASA raised the signal over Batanes in its 11:00 AM bulletin. Signal No. 2 means gale force winds of 62 to 88 kph. The storm is not expected to make direct landfall, but its rain and seas will hit the far north of the Philippines on Thursday.

Champi is the same storm system that crossed Guam earlier in its track, a landfall this site covered on October 17. It entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday, October 20, took the local name Rosal, and became the country's 18th tropical cyclone of 2026. By Wednesday it was the strongest kind of storm PAGASA tracks, and it was still moving toward extreme Northern Luzon.

Where the storm stood on Wednesday

In PAGASA's 5:00 AM bulletin, the center sat 990 km east of Northern Luzon, moving west-northwest at 30 kph. Signal No. 1 then covered seven areas: Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, eastern Isabela, northern and central Apayao, northeastern Ilocos Norte and northeastern Catanduanes.

By the 11:00 AM bulletin, the center was 845 km east of Northern Luzon and moving west-northwest at 25 kph. PAGASA raised Signal No. 2 over Batanes. Signal No. 1 stayed over Cagayan including the Babuyan Islands, eastern Isabela, Ilocos Norte, Apayao and northeastern Catanduanes. In six hours the storm had closed about 145 km on the coast and slowed a little, a pattern that often means a longer stretch of wind and rain for the islands in its path.

What the signals mean in plain terms

Signal No. 1 means tropical cyclone winds are expected within 36 hours. Trees can sway hard, light roofs and signs can take damage, and sea travel gets risky. Signal No. 2 is a step up. Gale force winds of 62 to 88 kph can break branches, damage weak structures, and force small boats to stay in port. PAGASA says the highest signal it expects for this storm is No. 2 or 3. No. 3 would mean stronger winds still, so families in Batanes should prepare for the chance of one more step up.

The wind is only part of the threat. PAGASA expects 50 to 100 mm of rain in Ilocos Norte, Apayao and Cagayan, and 100 to 200 mm in Batanes on Thursday. Rain at the top of that range, falling fast on steep ground, brings flood and landslide risk. Seas up to 8 meters are expected along the coasts of Batanes and northern and eastern Cagayan. Waves that size close ports and stop ferry work outright.

What happens next

PAGASA says a direct landfall is unlikely. The closest approach to extreme Northern Luzon should come Thursday to Friday afternoon. The storm should exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility Friday evening to early Saturday. That timing gives Batanes and the Babuyan Islands one main day of heavy rain, on Thursday, with rough seas running longer.

Key numbers

Maximum sustained winds: 215 kph, with gusts to 265 kph. Position at 5:00 AM Wednesday: 990 km east of Northern Luzon, moving west-northwest at 30 kph. Position at 11:00 AM: 845 km east of Northern Luzon, moving west-northwest at 25 kph. Signal No. 2 winds: 62 to 88 kph. Expected rain Thursday: 100 to 200 mm in Batanes, 50 to 100 mm in Ilocos Norte, Apayao and Cagayan. Seas: up to 8 meters along the coasts of Batanes and northern and eastern Cagayan. Storm count: the 18th tropical cyclone of 2026 for the Philippines.

What residents and travelers should do now

People in Batanes should finish outdoor work today, secure loose items, charge phones, and store water and food in case power and supply boats stop. Families in low spots in Cagayan, Apayao and Ilocos Norte should know their nearest high ground before Thursday's rain starts, and should not cross flooded roads or swollen streams. Anyone with a ferry booking in the far north should expect cancellations while seas run near 8 meters, and should check with the operator before going to the port. Travelers with flights to and from the northern airports should watch airline notices through Friday, since delays can follow the storm even where winds stay at Signal No. 1 level.

Fishing boats and small craft should stay ashore along the Batanes and Cagayan coasts until PAGASA lowers the signals. The storm may miss a direct landfall, but a miss on the map still means a hard day of wind, rain and sea for the islands closest to its track.