PAGASA: Storm Gener now a typhoon; Batanes under signal 3

Published July 30, 2012 5:16pm

(Updated 12:56 a.m., 31 July 2012) After bringing heavy rain to parts of the country since last weekend, Tropical Storm Gener (Saola) has intensified into a typhoon Monday afternoon, with Storm Signal No. 3 raised over Batanes in extreme northern Luzon.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration also said Gener slowed down and continues to be a threat to extreme northern Luzon.

"Bumagal siya dahil sa high-pressure area sa ibabaw ni Gener," PAGASA forecaster Jori Loiz said in an interview on dzBB radio. In its 5 p.m. advisory, PAGASA said Gener may bring an estimated 10 to 20 mm per hour of rainfall (heavy to intense) within its 700-km diameter. Heavy rains since Sunday prompted education and local officials to suspend classes in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. On Monday afternoon, Malacañang announced that work in government offices as well as college level classes were also suspended.

Location of Gener

The weather bureau said that as of 10 p.m., Gener was estimated at 240 km east northeast of Basco, Batanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

It said Gener was moving north northwest at 7 kph and is forecast to be 245 km northeast of Basco, Batanes Tuesday evening. By Wednesday evening, it is expected to be 420 km north of Basco, Batanes.

By Thursday evening, it is expected to be 640 km north northwest of Basco Batanes, outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

Storm Signal No. 3 was placed over the Batanes Group of Islands, while Storm Signal No. 2 was placed over Cagayan, Calayan Group of Islands, and Babuyan Group of Islands.

Under Storm Signal No. 1 are Isabela, Kalinga, and Apayao.

PAGASA said Gener may enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rain and moderate to strong winds over Luzon and Visayas, especially the western section.

It reminded residents in low-lying and mountainous areas to be alert against possible flash floods and landslides. Those living in coastal areas under Storm Signal 2, meanwhile, were advised to remain alert against big waves or storm surges.

Meanwhile, PAGASA reminded fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into the seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas, and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao due to the combined effect of Gener and the southwest monsoon.

Toll

GMA News TV program “State of the Nation with Jessica Soho” quoted National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council figures placing Typhoon Gener’s human toll at four killed and 13,000 displaced.

The report also said that around 100 homes were destroyed in Negros Occidental.

Also, according to an 11 a.m. NDRRMC report, five roads and four bridges were closed to traffic Monday. Four of the roads are located in the Cordilleras and one is in Palawan. Two of the said bridges are located in the Cagayan valley, one in Palawan and one in Occidental Mindoro.

The NDRRMC also reported that 28,631 were affected in five regions with 2,413 people having taken shelter in evacuation centers.

The council also reported that 16 international flights were either delayed or diverted to Clark airport due to the inclement weather. Around six domestic flights were also delayed and diverted.

The NDRRMC also said that Ipo Dam opened two gates at 5 a.m. Monday, but one was closed at 10 a.m. The others remain open.

The Bustos Dam has two gates and the residents in the path of the La Mesa Dam overflow have been placed on alert.

Rains and winds in Metro Manila

PAGASA weather forecaster Bernie De Leon told GMA News Online that Sunday night’s strong winds were not caused by Gener. But rather, it was a low pressure area that “started in Subic”.

De Leon admitted that they were caught off-guard because of the speed of the LPA as the speed of it was something expected to develop in days rather than hours.

Within 3-4 hours it moved to moved to Bataan from Subic. It then went to Metro Manila, then Quezon, in the Sierra Madres. It then vanished.

Meanwhile, GMA News weather forecaster Nathaniel Cruz explained during Monday’s airing of GMA News TV program “State of the Nation with Jessica Soho” that Sunday’s sudden, strong winds was caused by a “storm cell” off the west coast of Luzon.

He described the storm cell as a cluster of clouds and winds. He said that it is a weather disturbance that just suddenly appears. — DVM/AE/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: stormgener, gener, typhoongener, pagasa, weather