Francisco enhances monsoon as it crosses Philippine waters

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Francisco is enhancing the southwest monsoon as it crosses the waters of the country, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said yesterday.

The enhanced winds of the monsoon are felt in parts of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, the Bicol Region and Mimaropa. 

The Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, BARMM, Surigao del Norte and Misamis Occidental are also affected by the monsoon.

Rains will be expected in parts of Cagayan Valley, especially in Cagayan and Batanes, Aurora, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac.

Based on the latest warning signals issued yesterday at 5 p.m., Wind Signal No. 1 is raised in Batanes and the northeastern portion of Cagayan including Babuyan Island.

Francisco was last located at 330 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan moving northwestward at 10 kms per hour. It is packing winds of 175 kph and gusts of 215 kph. 

It is moving northward and may exit the Philippine area of responsibility late tomorrow or early Friday. 

Meanwhile, a tropical storm with the international name Higos was located at 2,490 east of Southern Luzon.

It is packing winds of 65 kph with gusts of 80 kph, moving westward at 20 kph. 

While it will recurve to Japan, PAGASA is not ruling out that it will enter PAR by tomorrow or Friday. It will then be given the local name Gardo.