MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Francisco (Mekkhala) continued to strengthen before dawn on Monday, June 22, while accelerating over the Philippine Sea.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 5 am bulletin on Monday that Francisco now has maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour from the previous 130 km/h. The typhoon’s gustiness also increased to 170 km/h from 160 km/h.
As of 4 am, Francisco was already 715 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. It maintained its west northwest direction but is now moving at a relatively fast 30 km/h from 25 km/h.
Landfall remains unlikely, but the typhoon might come closer to extreme Northern Luzon in the next couple of days.
PAGASA raised Signal No. 1 in the following areas for the first time at 5 am on Monday, which means they have lead time of 36 hours to prepare for strong winds from Francisco:
- Batanes
- northeastern part of Cagayan (Gonzaga, Santa Ana) including the eastern part of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Island, Didicas Island, Camiguin Island)
The southwest monsoon or habagat, which will be enhanced by the typhoon, is also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:
Monday, June 22
- La Union, Pangasinan, Calabarzon, Romblon, Masbate, most of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental
Tuesday, June 23
- most of Luzon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental
Wednesday, June 24
- most of Luzon, Visayas, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental
For rainfall, the weather bureau issued its first separate advisory also at 5 am on Monday, warning of moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters) in Batanes and Cagayan due to Francisco on Tuesday, June 23, and Wednesday, June 24. Floods and landslides are possible in high-risk areas.
In addition, PAGASA’s regular daily forecast shows the southwest monsoon may bring scattered rain and thunderstorms to the Visayas, Mindanao, and Palawan on Monday. The rest of Luzon could just have localized thunderstorms.
On Monday, conditions in certain seaboards remain risky, especially for small vessels.
Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)
- Eastern seaboards of Babuyan Islands and mainland Cagayan – waves up to 3.5 meters high
- Eastern seaboards of Batanes and Isabela – waves up to 3 meters high
Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)
- Remaining seaboards of mainland Cagayan, Babuyan Islands, and Batanes; seaboard of Aurora; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; northern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur; eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental – waves up to 2.5 meters high
- Northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte; northeastern seaboard of mainland Quezon; northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar; eastern seaboards of Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Sur; southern seaboard of Davao Oriental – waves up to 2 meters high
Francisco is the Philippines’ sixth tropical cyclone for 2026, and the second for June. It could leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday, June 26.
Aside from Francisco, PAGASA continues to monitor a low pressure area (LPA) outside PAR, located 2,885 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon as of 3 am on Monday.
This LPA still has a low chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 hours. Further updates will be given in the coming days.
PAGASA had announced the onset of the southwest monsoon last May 30, and the start of the rainy season on June 4. – Rappler.com