Batanes, parts of Cagayan under Signal No. 1 as Typhoon Francisco intensifies

Typhoon Francisco further intensified as it continued to move west northwestward over the Philippine Sea, the state weather bureau said on Monday morning.

In its 5 a.m. tropical cyclone bulletin, PAGASA said Signal No. 1 is in effect over the following areas:

• Batanes, and
• The northeastern portion of Cagayan (Gonzaga, Santa Ana) including the eastern portion of Babuyan Islands (Babuyan Island, Didicas Island, Camiguin Island).

As of 4 a.m. of June 22, Francisco’s center was estimated to be 715 km east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

It is packing maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h near the center, with gustiness of up to 170 km/h, and central pressure of 965 hPa.

The typhoon is moving west northwestward at 30 km/h.

PAGASA said Francisco will likely remain over the Philippine Sea, but is not ruling out the possibility of a closer approach to Extreme Northern Luzon should there be a westward shift in the forecast track.

The typhoon is forecast to continue moving west northwestward until Tuesday, June 23, and is also expected to further intensify and reach its peak intensity by then.

After this, Francisco is expected to weaken and decelerate before recurving and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Friday, June 25.

Meanwhile, the state weather bureau said the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat will bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas:

• La Union
• Pangasinan
• 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 are expected over the eastern seaboards of Babuyan Islands and mainland Cagayan, and the eastern seaboards of Batanes and Isabela.

PAGASA cautioned mariners of motorbancas and similarly sized vessels to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigation under these conditions. — JMA, GMA News