Gener still packs a punch on way out of PH

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Gener, expected to be out of the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday afternoon, has slightly intensified as it continued to head towards Taiwan, the state weather bureau said Wednesday.

Public storm warning signal number two remained in Batanes, Babuyan and Calayan Group of Islands, while public storm warning signal number one was still up in Apayao and the rest of Cagayan, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

As of 4 p.m., the center of Gener was seen 380 kilometers north northeast of Basco, Batanes, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It was moving north northwest at 15 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 number 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, Visayas and eastern Mindanao due to the combined effect of typhoon “Gener” and the southwest monsoon. Typhoon Gener was expected to expected to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains and moderate to strong winds over Luzon and Western Visayas.

Estimated rainfall amount is from 10 – 20 mm per hour (heavy – torrential) within the 800 km diameter of the typhoon, Pagasa said.

Gener was forecast to be 580 kilometers north northwest of Basco, Batanes or 80 kilometers northeast of Taipei, Taiwan, outside the Philippine area of responsibility by Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the low pressure area spotted off earlier at 270 kilometers northwest of Laoag City was likely to dissipate in a few hours, Pagasa said.