Francisco now a super typhoon

MANILA, Philippines — Weather disturbance Francisco (international name: “Mekkhala”) intensified into a super typhoon on Monday evening, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

According to Pagasa, Francisco developed into a super typhoon around 8 p.m. as it reached maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (km/h) and gustiness of up to 230 km/h.

It was then last spotted 440 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan or 450 km east of Aparri, Cagayan while moving west northwestward at 15 km/h.

READ: Typhoon Francisco rapidly intensifies over Philippine Sea

“Francisco is forecast to intensify and may reach peak intensity within the next 12 hours,” said Pagasa in its 11 p.m. typhoon bulletin.

“Afterward, a weakening trend is expected due to increasingly unfavorable environmental conditions,” it added.

READ: Francisco now a typhoon – Pagasa

Meanwhile, Francisco is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday, June 26, and is expected to remain far from the Philippine landmass throughout the forecast period.

However, Pagasa said a slight westward shift in the super typhoon forecast track is still possible.

Currently, only Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 (or where winds of 39 km/h to 61 km/h and intermittent rains may be expected in at least 36 hours) is raised in the following areas:

• Batanes
• The northeastern portion of Cagayan (Gonzaga, Santa Ana), including the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Didicas Is., Camiguin Islands)