Pagasa: ‘Francisco’ intensifies into typhoon  

Severe Tropical Storm “Francisco” (international name: Mekkhala) intensified into a typhoon on Sunday afternoon, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

According to Pagasa, Francisco turned into a typhoon around 2 p.m. while being monitored within the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

It was last located 1,090 kilometers east of Central Luzon, carrying wind speeds at 120 km per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

It carries wind speeds of 120 kph and gustiness of up to 150 kph while moving west-northwestward at 25 kph.

“Based on the latest forecast track, Wind Signal No. 1 may be hoisted in some localities in the northern and eastern portions of Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, and Batanes by tomorrow morning,” Pagasa said.

The state weather bureau also said Francisco is expected to remain over the Philippine Sea throughout the forecast period, though a closer approach to extreme northern Luzon is not entirely ruled out.

“Francisco will move west-northwestward until Wednesday (June 24), then it will decelerate as it recurves towards southern Japan for the rest of the forecast period,” it added.

Francisco is expected to further intensify, reaching its peak intensity by Tuesday, June 23.

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Despite these developments, Pagasa noted that Francisco is “less likely to directly affect the weather conditions in the country” on Sunday.

Pagasa, however, warned that the onset of heavy rains caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon (“habagat”) may already begin on Monday, June 22.

Meanwhile, another low pressure area (LPA) is also being monitored by Pagasa, this time outside PAR or 3,030 km east of southeastern Luzon.

This LPA, however, currently has “low” potential of developing into a tropical depression within the next day.