Francisco weakens into typhoon, enhances 'habagat'

(Image screengrabbed from Pagasa’s latest press briefing)

MANILA, Philippines – Super Typhoon Francisco (international name: Mekkhala) has weakened into a typhoon over the Philippine Sea and is enhancing the southwest monsoon or “habagat” on Tuesday, according to the state weather bureau.

In its latest press briefing, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Francisco was carrying maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, down from 185 kph Tuesday morning, with gusts of up to 215 kph.

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It was moving northwest at 10 kph. As of 10 a.m., the center of the typhoon was located 375 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan.

While Francisco is not expected to make landfall, Pagasa said it continues to enhance the “habagat”, which is expected to bring rains across the country.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still up over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Cagayan, including the eastern section of the Babuyan Islands.

Meanwhile, the cyclone outside the Philippine area of responsibility strengthened from a tropical depression into a tropical storm, and spotted some 2,605 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon.

The storm was carrying maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and moving west-northwest at 15 kph.

However, Pagasa said it has only a low chance of directly affecting the country this week.

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