Manila, Philippines – Tropical storm “Gener” (international name “Saola”) further intensi?ed yesterday, prompting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to raise public storm warning signals in seven areas in Luzon.
PAGASA forecaster Elson Dianela said Gener maintained its north-northwest track and is not expected to make landfall in Luzon.
However, Dianela said that the outer circulation of the tropical storm will directly affect seven areas in Luzon.
“Its closest approach will be near Cagayan, Calayan, and Babuyan Group of Islands,” he said. “The seven areas were placed under public storm warning signals 1 and 2 because they are directly affected by Gener.”
Signal No. 2 was hoisted over Cagayan and Calayan and Babuyan Group of Islands yesterday morning. They will experience winds of 61-100 kilometers per hour (kph) in at least 24 hours.
Areas placed under Signal No. 1 were Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, and Batanes Group of Islands. They will experience 30-60 kph winds within the next 36 hours.
As of 11 a.m. yesterday, Gener was estimated at 310 kilometers (kms) east-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora. It has maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the eye of the storm and gustiness of up to 100 kph, moving down from 15 kph last Saturday to 11 kph yesterday morning.
If it maintains its speed and direction, Dianela said the storm is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Wednesday.
Gener is expected to be 260 kms east-northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by this morning and 160 kms northeast of Basco, Batanes tomorrow morning.
By Wednesday morning, it is expected to be 350 kms north of Basco or 40 kms east of Taiwan. (Ellalyn B. de Vera)
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