Super Typhoon Champi, known locally in the Philippines as Rosal, strengthened further on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5:00 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, reported by BusinessWorld.

PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over seven areas — Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, the eastern portion of Isabela, the northern and central portions of Apayao, the northeastern portion of Ilocos Norte and the northeastern portion of Catanduanes. The bureau said affected areas could face strong winds posing a minimal to minor threat to life and property within the next 36 hours.

The super typhoon was last located 990 kilometres east of Northern Luzon as of 4:00 a.m., with maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 265 km/h, PAGASA said — stronger than the 185 km/h winds and 230 km/h gusts it carried when it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 10:40 a.m. on Tuesday, when Signal No. 1 initially covered five areas, Malaya Business Insight reported.

PAGASA also issued heavy rainfall warnings for Ilocos Norte, Apayao and Cagayan, with rainfall of 50 to 100 millimetres expected within the next 24 hours, and warned of possible flooding and landslides in affected areas. The bureau said Champi is unlikely to make a direct landfall in the Philippines, but its outer cloud bands could still bring strong winds and rainfall to parts of Luzon. It is expected to move closest to extreme Northern Luzon between Thursday and Friday afternoon, and to exit the PAR by Friday evening or early Saturday morning. Rosal is the Philippines' 18th tropical cyclone of 2026. Sources: BusinessWorld, citing PAGASA; Malaya Business Insight.