Gener maintains strength; storm signals still up over N. Luzon–Pagasa

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 6:32 A.M., 31 July 2012

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon “Gener” has maintained its strength as it continues to move north-northwest, the state weather bureau said Tuesday.

Signal No. 3 remained up over the Batanes Group of Islands while Signal No. 2 was still up over Cagayan, Calayan Group of Islands and Babuyan Group of Islands, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

Signal No. 1 remained in Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao.

As of 4 a.m. Gener was located 180 kilometers east-northeast of Basco, Batanes , with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph. It was moving north-northwest at 7 kph.

Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas were alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under Signal No. 3 and No. 2 were alerted against big waves or storm surges generated by this tropical cyclone.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were advised not to venture out into the Seaboard of Luzon and Visayas due to the combined effect of typhoon “Gener” and the southwest monsoon.

Typhoon “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.

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

Typhoon Gener was forecast to be 240 km north-northeast of Basco, Batanes by Wednesday morning; 460 km north of Basco, Batanes by Thursday morning; and 670 km north-northwest of Basco Batanes oroutside the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday morning.

Batanes group of islands will experience stormy weather while Cagayan including Calayan and Babuyan group of islands will have rains with gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be rough to very rough.

Meanwhile, the rest of Luzon and Visayas will experience occasional rains becoming more frequent over the western sections which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. Mindanao will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest will prevail over Central and Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and coming from the west to southwest over the rest of Northern Luzon. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.