WIND POWER. A Filipino woman holds on to the umbrella as strong winds blow while her son eats bread at a Manila suburb on Sunday. AP
MANILA, Philippines – Seven areas remained under storm signals as tropical storm “Gener” continued to “endanger” extreme northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said on Monday.
Public storm warning signal number 2 was still up in Cagayan, Calayan Group of Island, Babuyan Group of Island and Batanes Group of Island while public storm signal number 1 remained in Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
As of10:00a.m., the center of tropical storm”Gener” was seen 360 kilometers east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan or 290 kilometers east southeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph. It was moving north northwest at 11kph.
Residents living in low lying and mountainous areas were alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under public storm warning signal number 2 were alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.
Tropical storm “Gener” is expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains and moderate to strong winds over Luzon and Visayas especially the western section, Pagasa said,
Estimated rainfall amount is from 10 – 20 mm per hour (heavy – intense) within the 700 km diameter of the tropical storm.
Fishing boats and other small seacrafts were 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.
“Gener” was forecast to be 210 km East Northeast of Basco, Batanes by Tuesday morning; 340 km North of Basco, Batanes by Wednesday morning and 530 km NNW of Basco Batanes outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Thursday morning.