Typhoon Francisco is forecast to reach super typhoon category within the next 12 hours, PAGASA said.

As of 5:00 PM on Monday, June 22, “Francisco,” with the international name “Mekkhala,” was located at 625 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. It has maximum sustained winds of 175 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 215 km/h and central pressure of 945 hPa.

It is currently moving west northwestward at 20 km/h.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 is also in effect in the following areas in Luzon:

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

According to the state weather bureau, “Francisco” will move generally northwestward until tomorrow, June 23, and will decelerate before recurving north northeastward towards the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan.

It is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday, June 26. However, PAGASA noted that a weakening trend is also expected beginning on Wednesday, June 24, due to “increasingly unfavorable environmental conditions.