Tropical Depression Gener will keep moving over Northern Luzon, before emerging over the coastal waters of Ilocos Sur, La Union, or Pangasinan on Tuesday morning, September 17
MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Gener made landfall in Palanan, Isabela, at 11 pm on Monday, September 16, the weather bureau announced past 2 am on Tuesday, September 17.
As of 1 am on Tuesday, Gener was already in the vicinity of Cauayan City, Isabela, moving west at 25 kilometers per hour (km/h).
The tropical depression maintained its strength, with 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.”
The tropical depression will keep moving over Northern Luzon in the coming hours, before emerging over the coastal waters of Ilocos Sur, La Union, or Pangasinan on Tuesday morning.
Areas affected by Gener should continue to watch out for floods and landslides as the tropical depression is still causing moderate to intense rain.
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 also bringing strong winds to the following areas under Signal No. 1 as of 2 am on Tuesday:
- 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
- northern and central parts of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, Baliuag, San Rafael, Calumpit, Hagonoy, Malolos City, Paombong, Guiguinto, Balagtas, Santa Maria, Pandi, Bustos, Angat, Plaridel, Norzagaray, Pulilan)
- northern part of Bataan (Dinalupihan, Orani, Hermosa)
- Aurora
- northern part of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real) including Polillo Islands
After Gener exits landmass on Tuesday morning, it is seen to move west over the West Philippine Sea until Wednesday, September 18, before turning west northwest to northwest on Thursday, September 19, as it heads for China.
Also over the West Philippine Sea, Gener could intensify into a tropical storm on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. During this period as well, it may leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Aside from Gener, the southwest monsoon or habagat — being enhanced by the tropical depression — will trigger more rain in the next three days.
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 also bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas:
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, the gale warning issued at 5 pm on Monday remains in effect because of the southwest monsoon. Rough to very rough seas are expected in the western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon; the western, eastern, and central 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 Batanes, Babuyan Islands, and the northern seaboards of the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley (waves 1.5 to 3.5 meters high), as well as 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).
ALSO ON RAPPLER
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Pulasan, still outside PAR, was located 2,015 kilometers east of Central Luzon at 10 pm on Monday.
It is moving west northwest at 20 km/h, and might enter PAR on Tuesday evening. Its local name would be Helen.
So far, Pulasan continues to have maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h and gustiness of up to 80 km/h, but PAGASA is not ruling out intensification into a severe tropical storm.
Pulasan or the potential Helen will remain far from landmass, and its stay inside PAR will be brief as it could exit around Wednesday noon. 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 expected to enhance 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
