'Francisco' intensifies into typhoon, may enhance monsoon rains
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:24 p.m.) — Francisco (international name: Mekkhala) intensified into a typhoon over the Philippine Sea on Sunday afternoon, June 21, but no Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal has been raised so far, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of Typhoon Francisco was estimated at 1,055 kilometers east of Central Luzon as of 4 p.m.
The typhoon was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 150 kph. It had a central pressure of 975 hectopascals.
Francisco was moving west-northwest at 25 kph, with strong to typhoon-force winds extending up to 420 kilometers from its center.
PAGASA said Francisco is less likely to directly affect weather conditions in the country on Sunday. However, heavy rains due to the enhanced southwest monsoon, locally known as habagat, may begin on Monday, June 22.
The weather bureau said it may issue a weather advisory Sunday or Monday for expected heavy rains over Northern Luzon and some areas in the western sections of Luzon and the Visayas.
Wind signals possible
No wind signal is currently hoisted, but PAGASA said Signal No. 1 may be raised over some localities in the northern and eastern portions of Cagayan, the Babuyan Islands and Batanes by Monday morning, based on Francisco's latest forecast track.
The southwest monsoon will also bring strong to gale-force gusts over several areas, especially in coastal and upland communities exposed to winds.
On Sunday, these gusts may affect Siquijor, Camiguin, the southern portion of Bohol, Southern Leyte, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental and Sarangani.
By Monday, strong to gale-force gusts may be felt in La Union, Pangasinan, Calabarzon, Romblon, Masbate, most of the Visayas, Basilan, Sulu, Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, the eastern portion of Davao Occidental and the eastern and southern portions of Davao Oriental.
By Tuesday, June 23, these conditions may affect most of Luzon, the Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental.
Coastal waters. PAGASA said moderate seas of up to 2.5 meters may affect the eastern seaboards of Isabela and Davao Oriental in the next 24 hours.
Moderate seas of up to 2 meters may also affect the seaboards of northern Aurora and Surigao del Sur; the eastern seaboards of the Babuyan Islands, mainland Cagayan, Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Siargao Island-Bucas Grande Island Group and Davao Occidental; the northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes and Northern Samar; the northern seaboard of Camarines Sur; and the southern seaboard of Davao Oriental.
PAGASA advised mariners of motorbancas and similarly sized vessels to take precautions and avoid sailing under these conditions if possible.
Other coastal waters are expected to have wave heights of less than 2 meters.
Forecast track
Francisco is forecast to remain over the Philippine Sea throughout the forecast period, but PAGASA said a closer approach to extreme Northern Luzon is not ruled out if the storm's track continues to shift westward.
The typhoon is expected to continue moving west-northwest until Wednesday, June 24, before slowing down as it recurves toward southern Japan.
PAGASA said Francisco may further intensify and reach its peak intensity by Tuesday, before a weakening trend begins.
The weather bureau also cautioned that heavy rainfall and severe winds may still affect areas outside the forecast confidence cone.
New LPA monitored. PAGASA earlier said a low pressure area, identified as LPA 06c, was also being monitored within the Philippine monitoring domain. It had a low chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 hours. — with Ian Laqui
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