Francisco downgraded to severe tropical storm; Higos set to enter PAR

MANILA, Philippines – Francisco (Mekkhala) was downgraded from a typhoon to a severe tropical storm at 2 am on Thursday, June 25, on its way out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

As of 4 am, Francisco was located 415 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, moving north northeast at 15 kilometers per hour (km/h).

It did not make landfall in the Philippines, and continues to head for Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and the sea south of mainland Japan.

Francisco could already exit PAR by Thursday afternoon or evening.

The severe tropical storm currently has maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h and gustiness of up to 125 km/h.

At its peak, Francisco was a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h, but it has been gradually weakening since Tuesday, June 23.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) expects Francisco to weaken into a tropical storm on Friday, June 26.

Batanes and Babuyan Islands may still have scattered rain and thunderstorms due to Francisco on Thursday. Strong winds from the severe tropical storm continue to affect Batanes, too, so the province remains under Signal No. 1.

Also on Thursday, the southwest monsoon or habagat is affecting Luzon and the Visayas. The most affected areas over the next three days are the following:

Thursday, June 25

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro

Friday, June 26

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Zambales, Bataan, Occidental Mindoro

Saturday, June 27

• Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Bataan

Metro Manila, the Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, the rest of Cagayan Valley, the rest of Central Luzon, and the rest of Mimaropa could see scattered rain and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon on Thursday as well, while the rest of Luzon and the rest of the Visayas could have isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA added that the southwest monsoon and Francisco’s periphery or outer bands are bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:

Thursday, June 25

• most of Luzon, Panay Island, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar

Friday, June 26

• Batanes, Ilocos Region, Apayao, Cagayan, Isabela, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur

Saturday, June 27

• Batanes, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Lubang Island

Moderate to rough conditions also persist in some seaboards on Thursday.

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Northern and eastern seaboards of Batanes – waves up to 3.5 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Remaining seaboards of Batanes; seaboards of Babuyan Islands; northern seaboard of Ilocos Norte – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of Ilocos Norte; seaboards of mainland Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Zambales, Lubang Island, and Kalayaan Islands; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands and Catanduanes; northern seaboards of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur; western seaboards of Pangasinan, Bataan, and Batangas – waves up to 2 meters high

Francisco is the Philippines’ sixth tropical cyclone for 2026, and the second for June. After its expected exit on Thursday, the country could have its next tropical cyclone immediately — the tropical storm with the international name Higos.

Tropical Storm Higos was located 1,750 kilometers east of Central Luzon as of 3 am on Thursday, moving west northwest at 20 km/h. It has maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

Higos is projected to enter PAR by Thursday evening or early Friday morning. Once inside PAR, it will be given the local name Gardo.

Fortunately, the tropical storm will stay far from Philippine landmass as its movement would be generally northward or upward. It could exit PAR by Friday morning or afternoon.

PAGASA had announced the start of the rainy season last June 4. – Rappler.com