By Brian Campued
Tropical Depression Gener has slightly intensified as it crosses the West Philippine Sea on Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In its tropical cyclone bulletin issued at 2:00 p.m., PAGASA said Gener was located 255 kilometers (km) west-northwest of Baguio City, moving westward at 45 kilometers per hour (kph).
The tropical depression packs maximum sustained winds of 55 kph near its center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 is still hoisted in at least nine areas in Northern Luzon:
- Northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan (Pamplona, Santa Praxedes, Abulug, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, and Ballesteros)
- Babuyan Islands
- Apayao
- Abra
- Benguet
- Ilocos Norte
- Ilocos Sur
- La Union
- Pangasinan
In its track forecast, PAGASA said Gener is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
During the same period, Tropical Storm Pulasan may enter the PAR but is likely to remain far from the Philippine landmass before exiting Wednesday afternoon or evening.
Likewise, a gale warning is still in effect over several coastal waters in the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon, the western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon, the seaboards of Visayas, and the western, northern, and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.
Enhanced habagat
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon or habagat, both enhanced by Gener and Pulasan, continues to affect several provinces in Luzon.
PAGASA raised a heavy rainfall warning over several areas due to rains brought by habagat. Flooding and landslides are threatening in the following areas under Orange Warning:
- Palawan (Quezon, Rizal, Kalayaan Islands, Linapacan, El Nido, Taytay, Dumaran, Araceli, Roxas, and San Vicente)
- Negros Occidental (Hinoba-an, Sipalay City, Cauayan, Candoni, Ilog, and Kabankalan City)
While flooding and landslides are possible in the following areas under Yellow Warning:
- Negros Oriental (La Libertad, Jimalalud, Guihulngan City, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Mabinay, Manjuyod, Bais City, Bayawan City, Basay, and Tanjay City)
- Palawan (Puerto Princesa City, Aborlan, Narra, Sofronio Española, Brooke’s Point, Bataraza, Balabac, Cagayancillo, Busuanga, Coron, Culion, Cuyo, Magsaysay, and Agutaya)
- Occidental Mindoro
- Antique (Bugasong, Valderrama, Patnongon, San Remigio, Belison, San Jose de Buenavista, Sibalom, Hamtic, Tobias Fornier, and Anini-y)
- Iloilo (San Joaquin, Miagao, Igbaras, and Guimbal)
- Guimaras (Nueva Valencia and Sibunag)
- Negros Occidental (Himamaylan City, Binalbagan, Bago City, Valladolid, Pulupandan, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Pontevedra, Hinigaran, Isabela, Moises Padilla, and San Enrique)
— iro