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Typhoon Francisco (Mekkhala) is still likely to make landfall, but it may still affect parts of the Philippines and intensify the southwest monsoon.
MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Francisco (Mekkhala) intensified on Sunday evening, June 21, with sustained winds increasing from 120 km/h to 130 km/h.
The typhoon’s winds are now up to 160 kilometers per hour from 150 kilometers per hour, according to an 11 p.m. report by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Francisco was last seen 875 km east of Central Luzon at 10 pm on Sunday, still moving west-northwest at 25 km/h.
The typhoon is still likely to make landfall, but PAGASA is not ruling out an “imminent outlook for Northern Luzon” if its channel moves further west.
The latest forecast of the weather office also shows that Francisco and southwest monsoon or southwest, which will be strengthened by the typhoon, may cause heavy rains from Monday, June 22, or Tuesday, June 23. Parts of Luzon and Visayas may be affected, and the exact areas will be determined in the next advisory.
Currently, the path or extension of the typhoon is bringing rain and thunderstorms in Bicol, while the southwest monsoon is causing similar conditions in Mindanao, Visayas and Palawan. In other parts of Luzon, there may be localized thunderstorms.
Anticipating strong winds from Francisco, Wave number 1 may be available for parts of Cagayan, Babuyan Islands and Batanes by Monday morning.
The southwest monsoon also brings strong wind waves in the following areas:
Sunday, June 21
- Siquijor, Camiguin, southern part of Bohol, Southern Leyte, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, Sarangani
Monday, June 22
- La Union, Pangasinan, Calabarzon, Romblon, Masbate, most of Visayas, Basilan, Sulu, Zamboanga Peninsula, Western Misamis, Lanao, Camiguin, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, eastern part of Western Davao, eastern and southern parts of Eastern Davao.
Tuesday, June 23
- most of Luzon, Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Western Davao, Eastern Davao
Meanwhile, PAGASA is now warning of rough seas, especially in the eastern part of Northern Luzon. For the next 24 hours, conditions will be hazardous in the following seaboards:
To rough seas (small ships should not go to sea)
- Eastern Seaboards of Cagayan and Isabela – waves up to 3 meters high
Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautions or avoid sailing, if possible)
- The rest of the sea boards of Cagayan; Batanes and Aurora sea boards; the northern and eastern seas of the Polillo Islands; the northern seas of Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur; Davao Oriental sea – waves up to 2.5 meters high
- On the Northeast coast of the Quezon continent; the northern and eastern seas of Catanduanes and Northern Samar; the eastern seaboard of Albay, Sorsogon, Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur; south of Davao Oriental sea – waves up to 2 meters high
Francisco is the sixth in the Philippines tropical cyclone for 2026, and the second for June. It may leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday, June 26.
Aside from Francisco, PAGASA continues to monitor a low pressure area (LPA) outside the PAR, located 2,985 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon until 8:00 pm on Sunday.
This LPA still has a small chance of developing a tropical depression within 24 hours. More updates will be provided in the coming days.
PAGASA had announced the onset of the southwest monsoon last May 30, and the start of the summer season the rainy season on the 4th of June. – Rappler.com
