PAGASA: Signal No. 1 in parts of Luzon as Gener hastens approach

Signal No. 1 is up in 19 areas in Luzon as Tropical Depression Gener accelerated while approaching Northern Luzon, PAGASA said on Monday night.

According to its 8p.m. bulletin, PAGASA raised Signal No. 1 hoisted over the following areas:

1. Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
2. Isabela
3. Quirino
4. Nueva Vizcaya
5. Apayao
6. Kalinga
7. Abra
8. Ifugao
9. Mountain Province
10. Benguet
11. Ilocos Norte
12. Ilocos Sur
13. La Union
14. Pangasinan
15. Zambales
16. Tarlac
17. Nueva Ecija
18. Aurora
19. The northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta, Real) including Polillo Islands

State meteorologists said Gener was spotted 240 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

It moves northwestward at 15 kph, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

It may make landfall in the vicinity of Isabela or Aurora within the next 24 hours and may likely emerge over the coastal waters of La Union or Pangasinan by Tuesday morning.

Small vessels were warned of the risk of sea travel as a gale warning was in effect over several coastal waters.

These coastal areas are the western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon, the seaboards of Visayas, and the western, northern, and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

“Gener will likely cross the landmass of mainland Luzon as a tropical depression, although the possibility of reaching tropical storm category or slight weakening prior to landfall is not ruled out,” the state weather bureau said.

It added that Gener may reach tropical storm category over the West Philippine Sea by Tuesday evening.

Gener is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday, late evening. —NB, GMA Integrated News