TD Gener keeps strength, to make landfall in Isabela or Aurora

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Gener has maintained its strength and is expected to make landfall in Isabela or Aurora, the state weather bureau said on Monday afternoon.

In its 2 p.m. cyclone update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Gener is forecast to make landfall in Isabela or Aurora within the next 24 hours and may emerge over the coastal waters of La Union or Pangasinan on Tuesday (September 17) morning.

“Gener may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) between tomorrow late evening and Wednesday morning. Outside the PAR region, Gener will continue heading northwestward or west-northwestward and make landfall over southern mainland China on Friday  (September 20),” Pagasa said.

“Gener will likely cross the landmass of mainland Luzon as a tropical depression, although the possibility of reaching tropical storm category prior to landfall is not ruled out. Over the West Philippine Sea, Gener may reach tropical storm category by tomorrow evening or on Wednesday,” it added.

As of Monday afternoon, Gener was moving north-northwest at 10 kilometers per hour (kph). It was carrying a maximum sustained winds of 55 kph and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

The state weather bureau said the following areas are still under signal no. 1:

• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• Isabela
• Quirino
• Nueva Vizcaya
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Abra
• Ifugao
• Mountain Province
• Benguet
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan
• Zambales
• Tarlac
• Nueva Ecija
• Aurora
• The northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real) including Polillo Islands