PAGASA: 'Gener' intensifies, 3 areas under storm signal 2

At least three areas in northern Luzon were placed under Storm Signal No. 2 as Tropical Storm Gener (Saola) intensified and move closer to extreme northern Luzon Sunday. But the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Gener is not likely to make landfall and may instead head for Taiwan. "Sa pinapakita ng atmospheric models hindi siya magla-landfall. Siya ay papunta sa eastern section ng taiwan," PAGASA forecaster Glaiza Escollar said in an interview on dzBB radio. Escollar also said Gener is likely to continue intensifying as it makes its way north. PAGASA said that as of 4 a.m., Gener was estimated at 310 km east of Casiguran, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph. It was moving north-northwest at 15 kph and is expected to be 230 km northeast of Aparri, Cagayan Monday morning. By Tuesday morning, it is expected to be 210 km north-northeast of Basco, Batanes. By Wednesday morning it is expected to be 550 km north-northwest of Basco, Batanes. Areas under Storm Signal No. 2 include:

Under Storm Signal No. 1 are: "Cagayan, including Calayan and Babuyan Group(s) of Islands, will experience stormy weather while Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao and Batanes Group of Islands will have rain with gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be rough to very rough," PAGASA said in its 5 a.m. bulletin. It added the rest of Luzon and Visayas will have cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rain showers and thunderstorms which may trigger flash floods and landslides. Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms. PAGASA said moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and coming from the northeast to northwest over the rest of Luzon. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough, it added. "Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under Public Storm Warning Signals are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides," PAGASA said. It added those living in coastal areas under storm signal 2 should be alert against big waves or storm surges. Heavy to intense rainfall PAGASA said Gener may generate 10 to 25 mm per hour rainfall (heavy to intense) within its 600-km diameter. It also said Gener will enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rain over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao especially the western section. Also, PAGASA's gale warning indicated strong to gale-force winds expected to affect the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, the seaboards of Southern Luzon and Visayas and the eastern seaboard of Mindanao. "Fishing boats and other small sea crafts are advised not to venture out into the Seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and eastern seaboard of Mindanao due to the combined effect of Tropical Storm 'Gener' and the Southwest Monsoon," it said. — LBG, GMA News