Gardo intensifies into Severe Tropical Storm; Francisco exits PAR

Tropical Storm Gardo intensified into a Severe Tropical Storm on Thursday evening just hours after entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in the afternoon, the state weather bureau PAGASA said.

According to the 11 p.m. weather bulletin, Gardo was last monitored 1,275 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon. It has maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 115 kilometers per hour.

Gardo is moving north northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour, PAGASA added.

However, there was no tropical cyclone wind signal hoisted in any areas.

PAGASA said Gardo will remain far from the Philippine landmass throughout the forecast period and may exit PAR on Friday, June 26.

“It is forecast to move generally northward until it exits PAR by tomorrow (26 June) morning or afternoon. Afterwards, it will continue moving northward towards southern Japan,” said PAGASA.

Further, the state weather bureau said that Gardo will remain a severe tropical storm within the next 12 hours and may weaken into a tropical storm on Friday afternoon or evening. But the possibility of remaining as a severe tropical storm within the next 24 hours is not ruled out, PAGASA added.

Meanwhile, Severe Tropical Storm Mekkhala, which was formerly known as Francisco, was monitored outside of PAR as of 8 p.m.

It was last spotted 680 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, and moving north-northeastward at 20 kilometers per hour. — BAP, GMA News