'Gener' nears Taiwan but monsoon rain still expected; new potential cyclone spotted

After causing at least 12 deaths, typhoon "Gener" (Saola) moved toward east Taiwan early Wednesday, even as state weather forecasters spotted a new potential cyclone in the northwest periphery of Philippine territory.

 

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the potential cyclone, a low-pressure area, may enter Philippine territory and may be codenamed "Helen" if it becomes a cyclone.

 

"May namataan tayo mga 12 to 1 a.m. na LPA, pero labas ito ng Philippine area of responsibility natin. Binanggit natin na baka may chance pumasok sa PAR," PAGASA forecaster Bernie de Leon said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

He said they are still monitoring the LPA's movements to see if it will develop into a cyclone.

 

For Wednesday, he said Metro Manila can still expect monsoon rain.

 

PAGASA estimated the LPA at 270 km northwest of Laoag in Ilocos Norte as of 5 a.m.

 

It also estimated "Gener" may bring heavy to torrential rainfall of 10 to 35 mm per hour within its 700-km diameter.

 

Also, PAGASA said "Gener" continued to move northward and was in the vicinity of East Taiwan-Rukyu area as of 4 a.m.

 

In its 5 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said "Gener" was about 270 km northeast of Basco, Batanes as of 4 a.m., with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

 

"Gener" was moving north at 7 kph and is expected to be 405 km north-northeast of Basco, Batanes Thursday morning, and 540 km north of Basco, Batanes and outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility Friday morning.

 

Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan were under Storm Signal No. 2 while the rest of Cagayan and Apayao were under Storm Signal No. 1.

 

"Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan Groups of Islands will experience stormy weather while Apayao and the rest of Cagayan will have rains with gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be rough to very rough," it said in its 5 a.m. bulletin.

 

The rest of Luzon and Western Visayas will experience occasional rain becoming frequent over western section of Northern Luzon which may trigger flash floods and landslides.

 

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

 

Moderate to strong winds from the southwest will prevail over Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and coming from the west to southwest over the rest of Luzon.

 

The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

 

Monsoon, gale warning

 

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.

 

"Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under Public Storm Warning Signal 2 are alerted against big waves or storm surges," it said.

 

Meanwhile, PAGASA said strong to gale-force winds associated with "Gener" and the southwest monsoon may affect the eastern, western and southern seaboards of Luzon and the seaboards of Visayas.

 

It warned fishing boats and other small seacraft against venturing out into the seaboard of Luzon and Visayas due to the combined effect of "Gener" and the southwest monsoon. –KG, GMA News