Tropical cyclone Mekkhala to enter PAR on June 20 or 21

MANILA, Philippines – A tropical cyclone that formed outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday, June 19, is expected to enter PAR either on Saturday evening, June 20, or Sunday morning, June 21.

The tropical cyclone was at tropical storm strength on Saturday morning, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 105 km/h.

Its international name is Mekkhala, a name contributed by Thailand which refers to the “angel of thunder.”

Mekkhala is also seen to intensify into a severe tropical storm on Saturday and into a typhoon by Sunday.

As of 10 am on Saturday, it was located 1,590 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon, moving west at 20 km/h.

Once Mekkhala enters PAR, it will be given the local name Francisco. It would be the sixth tropical cyclone for 2026, and the second for June.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “a landfall scenario is less likely at this time,” but the incoming tropical cyclone could be near land on Tuesday, June 23, and Wednesday, June 24.

Because of that, the future Francisco might affect weather in extreme Northern Luzon starting Tuesday.

But earlier on Saturday, PAGASA said the trough or extension of the tropical storm may already cause scattered rain and thunderstorms in Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Islands, and Surigao del Norte during the day.

Other areas in the country have generally fair weather on Saturday, although the easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean may trigger isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, and Central Luzon.

In addition, the weather bureau is not ruling out the possibility of eventually raising Signal No. 1 in the northern and eastern parts of Northern Luzon, as strong winds from Mekkhala could reach these areas.

The northern and eastern coastal waters of Northern Luzon will also be moderate to rough due to the tropical cyclone by Tuesday.

PAGASA will also be monitoring Mekkhala’s possible enhancement of the southwest monsoon or habagat in the coming days. The southwest monsoon may dump heavy rain, especially in the western portion of the country.

The weather bureau had announced the onset of the southwest monsoon last May 30, and the start of the rainy season on June 4. – Rappler.com