Typhoon Francisco Weakens Over Philippine Sea East of Cagayan

Typhoon Francisco weakened back into a typhoon over the Philippine Sea at 8 a.m. Tuesday, twelve hours after it had intensified into a super typhoon, Rappler reported. As of 10 a.m. the storm was located 375 kilometers east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan, or 380 kilometers east of Calayan, Cagayan, and was moving northwest at 10 km/h.

Maximum sustained winds fell to 175 km/h and gusts decreased to 215 km/h. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration expects Francisco to weaken further yet remain a typhoon while inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility. The storm has stayed offshore and is projected to recurve toward Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and the sea south of mainland Japan.

Moderate to heavy rain of 50-100 mm is forecast for Batanes and Cagayan from Tuesday noon through Wednesday noon, with the same amounts expected in Batanes the following day. Aurora and Isabela may see scattered rain and thunderstorms on Tuesday. Signal No.

1 remains in effect for Batanes, the northeastern part of Cagayan including Gonzaga and Santa Ana, and the eastern part of the Babuyan Islands. The southwest monsoon is also producing moderate to heavy rain across Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Antique, and later Bataan through Friday.

Scattered rain and thunderstorms are expected Tuesday across the rest of Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Bicol, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Floods and landslides remain possible in areas affected by both systems. Strong to gale-force gusts are forecast across most of Luzon, the Visayas, and parts of Mindanao through Thursday. Sea travel is now dangerous for all vessels in extreme Northern Luzon, where waves may reach 4.5 meters on the eastern seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands and the northeastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan.