MANILA, Philippines – Nine cities in the northern part of Metro Manila were among the additional areas placed under Signal No. 1 at 5 am on Tuesday, September 17, as Tropical Depression Gener continued to cross Northern Luzon.
Gener had made landfall in Palanan, Isabela, at 11 pm on Monday, September 16.
The tropical depression was last spotted in the vicinity of Alicia, Isabela, before dawn on Tuesday. It slightly accelerated, moving west at 30 kilometers per hour from the previous 25 km/h.
It still has maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h.
But the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “slight weakening is also possible” as Gener “interacts with the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon.”
Here are the areas under Signal No. 1 as of 5 am on Tuesday, where strong winds are expected from Gener:
- Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- Isabela
- Quirino
- Nueva Vizcaya
- Apayao
- Kalinga
- Abra
- Ifugao
- Mountain Province
- Benguet
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Pangasinan
- Zambales
- Tarlac
- Nueva Ecija
- Pampanga
- Bulacan
- northern and central parts of Bataan (Dinalupihan, Orani, Hermosa)
- Aurora
- northern part of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta) including Polillo Islands
- northern part of Rizal (Rodriguez, San Mateo)
- northern part of Metro Manila (Quezon City, Caloocan City, Valenzuela City, Malabon City, Navotas City, Marikina City, City of Manila, San Juan City, Mandaluyong City)
For rainfall from the tropical depression, PAGASA maintained its forecast as of 5 am on Tuesday.
Tuesday, September 17
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Aurora
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): rest of Cagayan Valley, rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, rest of Ilocos Region, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Quezon, Rizal
Wednesday, September 18
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan
Gener is projected to emerge over the coastal waters of Ilocos Sur or La Union on Tuesday.
After the tropical depression exits landmass, it is seen to move west over the West Philippine Sea until Thursday, September 19, before turning west northwest toward the southern part of China.
Also over the West Philippine Sea, Gener could intensify into a tropical storm on Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning, September 18. During this period as well, it may leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
PAGASA also retained its rainfall forecast for the southwest monsoon or habagat, which is being enhanced by Gener and the tropical storm outside PAR, which has the international name Pulasan.
Tuesday, September 17
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): rest of Mimaropa, Bicol, rest of Western Visayas, rest of Negros Island Region
Wednesday, September 18
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Metro Manila, Calabarzon, rest of Mimaropa, Bicol, rest of Western Visayas, rest of Negros Island Region, Central Visayas
Thursday, September 19
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Occidental Mindoro
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, La Union, Pangasinan, rest of Mimaropa, Aklan, Antique
The enhanced southwest monsoon is bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas as well:
Tuesday, September 17
- Batanes, Mimaropa, Bicol, Visayas, Mindanao
Wednesday, September 18
- Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Visayas, Mindanao
Thursday, September 19
- Isabela, Aurora, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Caraga
For coastal waters, another gale warning was released at 5 am on Tuesday due to Gener and the enhanced southwest monsoon. Rough to very rough seas are expected for several coastal waters in the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon, the western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon, the seaboards of the Visayas, and the western, northern, and eastern seaboards of Mindanao (waves 2.8 to 4.5 meters high). Travel is risky for small vessels.
Up to rough seas are also seen in the eastern seaboard of Bicol, the seaboard of the Visayas outside gale warning areas, and the eastern seaboards of Caraga and the Davao Region (waves 1.5 to 3 meters high).
The remaining seaboards of the Philippines not covered by the gale warning will have up to moderate seas (waves up to 2.5 meters high).
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Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Pulasan was located 1,980 kilometers east of Central Luzon as of 3 am on Tuesday.
The tropical storm slowed down a bit, moving north northwest at 15 km/h from the previous 20 km/h.
It continues to have maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.
Pulasan may enter PAR on Tuesday evening, and would be given the local name Helen.
Pulasan or the potential Helen will remain far from landmass, and its stay inside PAR will be brief as it could exit on Wednesday afternoon. After leaving PAR, it may head toward Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and the East China Sea.
While Pulasan is not seen to hit land, it is enhancing the southwest monsoon, too.
Gener is the Philippines’ seventh tropical cyclone for 2024, and the third for September. If Pulasan enters PAR, it would be the eighth for the year, and the fourth for the month. – Rappler.com