2 weeks Ago By Acor Arceo
MANILA, Philippines – Tropical Depression Gener strengthened a bit early Tuesday afternoon, September 17, as it exited the landmass of mainland Luzon and emerged over the West Philippine Sea. As of 1 pm on Tuesday, Gener was already 255 kilometers west northwest of Baguio City, moving west at a fast 45 kilometers per hour (km/h). The tropical depression’s maximum sustained winds increased back to 55 km/h from 45 km/h.
It had slightly weakened early Tuesday morning due to the terrain in the Cordilleras. Its gustiness also went up to 70 km/h from 55 km/h. Gener made landfall in Palanan, Isabela, at 11 pm on Monday, September 16, then crossed Northern Luzon.
Only these areas that are still seeing strong winds from Gener remain under Signal No. 1 as of 2 pm on Tuesday: northwestern part of mainland Cagayan (Pamplona, Santa Praxedes, Abulug, Sanchez-Mira, Claveria, Ballesteros) Babuyan Islands Apayao Abra Benguet Ilocos Norte Ilocos Sur La Union Pangasinan Below is PAGASA’s rainfall forecast for Gener, also as of 2 pm. Tuesday afternoon, September 17, to Wednesday afternoon, September 18 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 millimeters): Cagayan, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Abra Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): rest of Cagayan Valley, rest of Cordillera Administrative Region, rest of Ilocos Region, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Quezon, Rizal, Aurora Wednesday afternoon, September 18, to Thursday afternoon, September 19 Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Zambales, Bataan Gener is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning, September 18.
It may also intensify into a tropical storm by Wednesday morning. Gener and the tropical cyclone outside PAR, Tropical Storm Pulasan, also continue to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat. Here is the weather bureau’s latest rainfall forecast for the enhanced southwest monsoon: Tuesday afternoon, September 17, to Wednesday afternoon , September 18 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): rest of Mimaropa, Bicol, rest of Western Visayas, rest of Negros Island Region, Zamboanga del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur Wednesday afternoon , September 18, to Thursday afternoon , September 19 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Palawan, Occidental Mindoro, Antique Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Metro Manila, Calabarzon, rest of Mimaropa, Bicol, rest of Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Cebu Thursday afternoon , September 19, to Friday afternoon , September 20 Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Occidental Mindoro Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Metro Manila, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon, La Union, Pangasinan, rest of Mimaropa, Aklan, Antique The enhanced southwest monsoon is bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas as well: Tuesday, September 17 Batanes, Mimaropa, Bicol, Visayas, Mindanao Wednesday, September 18 Zambales, Bataan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Visayas, Mindanao Thursday, September 19 Isabela, Aurora, Pangasinan, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas Must Read #WalangPasok: Class suspensions, Tuesday, September 17, 2024 For coastal waters, the gale warning that was issued at 5 am on Tuesday due to Gener and the enhanced southwest monsoon is still in effect.
Rough to very rough seas are expected for several coastal waters in the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon, the western and southern seaboards of Southern Luzon, the seaboards of the Visayas, and the western, northern, and eastern seaboards of Mindanao (waves 2.8 to 4.5 meters high).
Travel is risky for small vessels. Up to rough seas are also seen in the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao and the eastern seaboard of Eastern Visayas (waves 1 to 3 meters high). The remaining seaboards of the Philippines not covered by the gale warning will have up to moderate seas (waves up to 2.
5 meters high). ALSO ON RAPPLER View from Manila: In Escoda Shoal, China’s cruelty was too much for BRP Teresa Magbanua DepEd to roll out special science program for students taking PISA 2025 [Rappler’s Best] Marcos and his ordinary world Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Pulasan was last spotted 1,845 kilometers east of Northern Luzon or 1,800 kilometers east of extreme Northern Luzon at 10 am on Tuesday. Pulasan is moving north northwest at 25 km/h, and could enter PAR on Tuesday evening or early Wednesday morning.
Once inside PAR, its local name would be Helen. So far, Pulasan still has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h and gustiness of up to 80 km/h, but PAGASA is not ruling out the possibility of it intensifying into a severe tropical storm. Pulasan or the potential Helen will remain far from landmass, and it will only stay inside PAR for less than a day, with its exit possible on Wednesday afternoon or early evening.
After leaving PAR, it may head toward the East China Sea and pass near or over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands on Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, September 19. While Pulasan is not seen to hit land, it is enhancing the southwest monsoon, too. Gener is the Philippines’ seventh tropical cyclone for 2024, and the third for September.
If Pulasan enters PAR, it would be the eighth for the year, and the fourth for the month. – Rappler.com.
