‘Gener’ still gaining strength; storm signals remain in N. Luzon

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 6:32 p.m., 29 July 2012

MANILA, Philippines—Tropical storm “Gener” continued to gain strength Sunday, posing “intense danger” to extreme northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said.

Public storm signal No. 2 was hoisted over Cagayan, Calayan group of islands, Batanes group of islands and Babuyan group of islands, where sustained winds of 60 to 100 kph are expected until Monday.

Public storm signal No. 1 is still up in Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao, where winds of 30 to 60 kph are expected until Tuesday. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) advised against traveling on small seacraft and fishing boats.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, Gener was located 380 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, with maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph. It was moving north northwest at 15 kph.

Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under public storm warning signals were alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides, as heavy to intense rainfall is expected within the 600-km diameter of Gener.

Those living in coastal areas under storm signal 2 were alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by the tropical cyclone.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were also 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.

Estimated rainfall amount is from 10 to 20 mm per hour (heavy-intense) within the 700-km diameter of the tropical storm, Pagasa said.

“Gener” was also expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, especially the western section.

It was forecast to be 190 km northeast of Basco, Batanes, by Monday afternoon; 390 km north north of Basco, Batanes or 30 km east of Taiwan by Tuesday morning; and expected to land-fall in northeastern China, or 660 km north northwest of Basco, Batanes, outside the Philippine area of responsibility, by Wednesday morning.—With Jeannette I. Andrade, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Originally posted at 10:28 am| Sunday, July 29, 2012