Typhoon #FranciscoPH intensified into a super typhoon on Monday night and maintained its strength while slowing down further over the sea east of Northern Luzon on Tuesday morning, June 23.
In its 5 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said the center of the eye of Super Typhoon Francisco was estimated at 410 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan.
Francisco packs maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts of up to 230 km/h. It is moving west northwestward at 10 km/h, with strong to typhoon-force winds extending up to 360 kilometers from the center.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remains in effect over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Cagayan, particularly Gonzaga and Santa Ana, including the eastern portion of the Babuyan Islands composed of Babuyan Island, Didicas Island, and Camiguin Island.
PAGASA said minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible in areas under Signal No. 1. While a westward shift in the cyclone's track could warrant the raising of Signal No. 2 over parts of Batanes and the Babuyan Islands, the weather bureau noted that such a scenario has become less likely as Francisco has begun taking a more northwestward path.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon enhanced by the typhoon's circulation is expected to bring strong to gale-force gusts over most of Luzon and Visayas, as well as Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental on Tuesday.
PAGASA also warned of rough seas over the eastern seaboards of Batanes and the Babuyan Islands, where wave heights may reach up to four meters. Small seacraft, including motor bancas, are advised not to venture out to sea due to hazardous conditions.
Despite its intensity, PAGASA emphasized that Francisco will remain far from the Philippine landmass. The super typhoon is forecast to gradually decelerate and move generally north northwestward before recurving toward the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan.
Francisco is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday morning, June 26.
The weather bureau added that the cyclone may still intensify further or maintain its strength until Tuesday afternoon before gradually weakening due to increasingly unfavorable environmental conditions.
PAGASA urged the public and local disaster risk reduction and management offices to continue monitoring official weather bulletins and to take the necessary measures to protect life and property against possible hazards brought by heavy rainfall, strong winds, and rough seas.
