New weather disturbance spotted off Laoag

Satellite Picture at 4:32 p.m., 01 August 2012

MANILA, Philippines—As Typhoon “Gener” continued to move away from the country, a new weather disturbance was spotted off Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, the state weather bureau said Wednesday.

The low pressure area was estimated 270 kilometers northwest of Laoag City and will be called “Helen” should it become a cyclone, said the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

According to Pagasa, storm signals were lowered in Batanes, Calayan Group of Islands and Babuyan Group of Islands. These areas are now under public storm warning Signal No. 2.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 remains hoisted over Cagayan and Apayao, Pagasa added.

As of 4a.m., Gener was seen 270 kilometers northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph. It continued to move north 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 public storm warning Signal 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 Gener and the southwest monsoon. Gener was 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.

Gener was forecast to be 405 kilometers north northeast of Basco, Batanes by Thursday morning and 540 km north of Basco, Batanes outside the Philippine area of responsibility by Friday morning.

Batanes, Calayan and Babuyan group 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.

The rest of Luzon and Visayas will experience occasional rains becoming more frequent over the western sections which may trigger flashfloods and landslides. The rest of the country 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 Luzon. The coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.