Several areas in Northern Luzon are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Typhoon Francisco (international name Mekkhala) intensifies, the Philppine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Monday. June 22.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said affected areas are Batanes, the northeastern portion of Cagayan (Gonzaga, Santa Ana) including the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Is., Didicas Is., Camiguin Is.)
Francisco is packing maximum sustained winds of 140 km. per hour near the center and gusts of up to 170 kph.
It was located 715 km. east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan as 4 a.m., moving west northwestward at 30 kph.
The southwest monsoon (habagat) will bring strong to gale-force gusts across La Union, Pangasinan, Region 4-A (Calabarzon), Romblon, Masbate, most of Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental.
Rough seas may prevail over the eastern seaboards of Babuyan Islands and mainland Cagayan, and eastern seaboards of Batanes and Isabela.
Mariners of small seacraft, including all types of motorbancas, are advised not to venture to the sea under these conditions.
Both the habagat and Francisco will cause heavy rains across Batanes and Cagayan.
Meanwhile, PAGASA said Francisco is forecast to intensify and may reach its peak intensity by Tuesday.
Francisco will likely remain over the Philippine Sea throughout the forecast period, but a closer approach to extreme northern Luzon is not ruled out should there be a westward shift in the forecast track, PAGASA said. *PNA
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