Severe Tropical Storm Francisco now inside PAR

MANILA, Philippines – Mekkhala intensified from a tropical storm into a severe tropical storm outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility at 8 pm on Saturday, June 20, then entered PAR at 10 pm.

It has been given the local name Francisco, as the country’s sixth tropical cyclone for 2026. It is also the second tropical cyclone for June.

In a bulletin issued at 11 pm on Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Francisco was located 1,295 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon, moving west at 25 kilometers per hour (km/h).

So far, the severe tropical storm has maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h and gustiness of up to 115 km/h.

It is likely to strengthen further into a typhoon by Sunday, June 21, and could reach its peak intensity — referring to maximum sustained winds — by Monday, June 22.

PAGASA expects Francisco to remain over the Philippine Sea, which means the chances of landfall are slim.

However, the trough or extension of the severe tropical storm is currently causing scattered rain and thunderstorms in Eastern Visayas, Caraga, and the Davao Region.

The weather bureau is also not ruling out the possibility of eventually raising Signal No. 1 in the northern and eastern parts of Northern Luzon, as strong winds from Francisco could reach these areas.

The southwest monsoon or habagat will also bring strong to gale-force gusts to the following areas:

Sunday, June 21

• Siquijor, Camiguin, and southern parts of Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, and Sarangani

Monday, June 22

• Romblon, most of Visayas, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands

In the next 24 hours, the eastern seaboards of Dinagat Islands, Siargao-Bucas Grande Islands, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental will have moderate seas, with waves up to 2 meters high. Small vessels should take precautionary measures, or avoid sailing, if possible.

PAGASA had announced the onset of the southwest monsoon last May 30, and the start of the rainy season on June 4. – Rappler.com