By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Typhoon Francisco is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) later today, even as another tropical cyclone, internationally named Higos, is forecast to enter the country’s monitoring area tonight and will be assigned the local name Gardo, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said Francisco continues to move northward and is projected to exit PAR by Thursday afternoon or evening.
As of the latest advisory, Francisco was located approximately 320 kilometers east-northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, carrying maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center and gusts reaching up to 160 kph while moving north at 15 kph.
The typhoon continues to affect Northern Luzon, particularly the eastern section of Batanes and parts of Cagayan, while weather conditions are also being felt across the remaining areas of Cagayan, Apayao, and Ilocos Norte.
PAGASA has maintained Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 over Batanes and the northeastern portion of Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon, enhanced by Francisco, continues to bring scattered rains over parts of Luzon, Western Visayas, and the Negros Island Region.
Forecasters are also monitoring Tropical Storm Higos, which was last estimated at 1,975 kilometers east of Central Luzon with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts of up to 80 kph.
Once inside PAR tonight, the cyclone will be given the local name Gardo, becoming the country’s seventh tropical cyclone of 2026 and the third to enter PAR this month.
PAGASA said Gardo is expected to move west-northwestward at 20 kph before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday morning.
At present, the tropical storm is not expected to make landfall or pose a direct threat to any part of the country, although authorities continue to closely monitor its movement.
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