As Tropical Depression “Gener” moves towards Luzon, expect heavy rains and strong winds, with the weather disturbance also enhancing the effects of the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned on Monday, Sept. 16.

PAGASA, in its 5 p.m. bulletin, said Gener remains on track for a possible landfall over Isabela or Aurora between Monday evening and early Tuesday morning, Sept. 17.

Gener’s center was located 290 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 70 kph.

It is projected to move northwestward at 10 kph.

In anticipation of strong winds due to the tropical depression, 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, Aurora, and northern Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real), including Polillo Islands.

Heavy rainfall forecast

From Monday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon, PAGASA said Gener may bring heavy to intense rainfall (100 to 200 millimeters) to Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Aurora.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rainfall (50 to 100 millimeters) may prevail across Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the rest of Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Norte, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Quezon, and Rizal.

From Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 18, Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Ifugao, Aurora, and Polillo Islands may continue to experience heavy to intense rains.

Ilocos Region, the rest of Cagayan Valley, the rest of CAR, and the rest of Central Luzon will have moderate to heavy rainfall.

From Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon, Sept. 19, moderate to heavy rains may persist in Cagayan, including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, and Apayao.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said Gener and Tropical Storm “Pulasan” (international name), outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, may continue to intensify the habagat, which could bring heavy rains over other parts of Luzon and Visayas in the coming days.

From Monday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon, heavy to intense habagat rains may prevail over Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Aklan, Antique, and Negros Occidental.

Moderate to heavy rainfall due to habagat may also affect Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, the rest of Western Visayas, the rest of Negros Island Region (NIR), and Bicol Region.

From Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon, heavy to intense rainfall may persist in Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Aklan, Antique, and Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, 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.

From Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon, heavy to intense rainfall may continue in Occidental Mindoro.

Moderate to heavy rainfall may also persist in Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, 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.

After its landfall, tropical Depression Gener is projected to emerge over the coastal waters of La Union or Pangasinan on Tuesday morning or noon.

It may exit the PAR between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.

Storm ‘Pulasan’

PAGASA is also continuously monitoring a tropical storm outside the PAR with the international name “Pulasan.”

Pulasan, a type of fruit, is a name contributed by Malaysia.

As of 10 a.m., the storm was located 2,045 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon and is projected to move north-northwestward at 40 kph.

It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near the center and gusts of up to 80 kph.

PAGASA said Pulasan may enter the PAR on Tuesday and exit the following day, following a track similar to Tropical Storm “Ferdie” (Bebinca).

Once it enters the PAR, it will be given the local name “Helen.”

While landfall is unlikely, the storm may help enhance the effects of the habagat, resulting in continued rainfall, especially in Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Visayas, and parts of Calabarzon.