9 areas under Signal No. 1 as Gener slightly intensifies

Storm signal no. 1 remains hoisted over nine areas in Luzon as Tropical Depression Gener slightly intensified and is now over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In its 2 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said strong winds of 39 to 61 km/h may be experienced over the following areas.

• Northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan (Pamplona, Santa Praxedes, Abulug, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Ballesteros)
• Babuyan Islands
• Apayao
• Abra
• Benguet
• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• La Union
• Pangasinan

According to PAGASA, the center of Gener was last seen 255 km west northwest of Baguio City. 

It is moving westward at 45 km/h while packing maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 70 km/h, and central pressure of 996 hPa. 

Heavy rainfall

Meanwhile, heavy rainfall are forecast over Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, and Abra from Tuesday to Wednesday, September 18 due to the effects of Gener and the Southwest monsoon, enhanced by Gener and Tropical Storm Pulasan. 

“Under these conditions, flooding and rain-induced landslides are possible especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazards as identified in official hazard maps and in localities that experienced considerable amounts of rainfall for the past several days,” said PAGASA. 

Marine gale warning

A marine gale warning will remain in effect over the coastal waters of northern seaboard of Northern Luzon, the western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon, the seaboards of Visayas, and the western, northern, and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.

"Sea travel in these waters is risky for small seacrafts, including all types of motorbancas," PAGASA said.

The tropical cyclone is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. 

Outside the PAR region, Gener will continue westward over the WPS for the remainder of the forecast period. It is forecast to have limited intensification within the forecast period, although it may reach tropical storm category by Wednesday morning. —Sundy Locus/ VAL, GMA Integrated News