Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised in 24 areas as of Tuesday morning, Sept. 17, as Tropical Depression Gener moves across Luzon after making landfall in Palanan, Isabela at 11 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin on Tuesday, Sept. 17, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) located the center of the tropical depression in Alicia, Isabela.
It has maintained its maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 70 kph,while moving westward at 30 kph.
PAGASA said Gener is expected to reach the coastal waters of Ilocos Sur or La Union in the next few hours.
As Gener moves across Luzon, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been hoisted over 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 portions of Bataan (Dinalupihan, Orani, Hermosa), Aurora, northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta), including Polillo Islands, northern portion of Rizal (Rodriguez, San Mateo), and the northern portion of Metro Manila (Quezon City, Caloocan City, Valenzuela City, Malabon City, Navotas City, Marikina City, Manila, San Juan City, Mandaluyong City).
Rainfall forecast
Gener may also continue to bring heavy to intense rainfall (100 to 200 millimeters) to Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, and Aurora on Tuesday.
In addition, moderate to heavy rainfall (50 to 100 millimeters) may affect the rest of Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the rest of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Quezon, and Rizal.
By Wednesday, Sept. 18, only moderate to heavy rainfall is expected to persist in Ilocos Region, CAR, Cagayan Valley, Zambales, and Bataan.
PAGASA added that the southwest monsoon, “or “habagat,” enhanced by Gener and Tropical Storm “Pulasan,” outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), may continue to bring heavy to intense rainfall to Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Aklan, Antique, and Negros Occidental on Tuesday.
Moderate to heavy monsoon rains may also affect Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, the rest of Western Visayas, the rest of Negros Island Region (NIR), and Bicol Region.
By Wednesday, heavy to intense rainfall may persist in Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Aklan, Antique, and Negros Occidental, while moderate to heavy rainfall may affect Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, the rest of Western Visayas, the rest of NIR, Bicol Region, and Central Visayas.
By Thursday, Sept. 19, heavy to intense rainfall may be confined to Occidental Mindoro.
Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rainfall may persist in Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, La Union, Pangasinan, Aklan, Antique, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.
PAGASA warned of possible flooding or landslides, especially in areas classified as “highly or very highly susceptible” to these hazards and areas that have received substantial rainfall in the past few days.
Gener may exit the PAR between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.
Storm ‘Pulasan’
Meanwhile, PAGASA said Tropical Storm Pulasan may enter the PAR Tuesday evening and will be given the local name “Helen.”
As of 10 p.m. on Monday, the center of the tropical storm was located 2,015 kilometers east of Central Luzon, with maximum sustained winds of 65 kph and gusts reaching up to 80 kph.
If Pulasan continues its west-northwestward movement at 20 kph, it will remain inside the PAR briefly and likely exit by Wednesday noon.
However, it may continue to enhance the effects of the habagat even after Gener has departed from the PAR.