Manila: Tropical Storm Higos, now locally named Gardo, has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), as reported in the 5 p.m. bulletin by the weather bureau on Thursday. Gardo was last located 1,400 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon, advancing northwestward at a speed of 45 kilometers per hour.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gardo is equipped with maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near its center, with gustiness reaching up to 105 kilometers per hour. Currently, no wind signal is in effect for any part of the country, and the storm is expected to maintain its status as a tropical storm throughout its forecasted path. It is also predicted to stay distant from landmasses and is likely to exit PAR on Friday.

Simultaneously, Severe Tropical Storm Francisco is on the verge of exiting PAR within the next six hours. Francisco, which holds maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness up to 115 kilometers per hour, was last tracked 625 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, moving north-northeastward at 15 kilometers per hour. PAGASA has indicated that Francisco is anticipated to weaken further, potentially being downgraded to a tropical storm by Friday.