Signal No. 1 up in Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino as LPA turns into tropical depression

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Monday raised Signal No. 1 over some Luzon areas following the intensification of a low pressure area (LPA) into a tropical depression named Gener.

It is the seventh tropical cyclone to hit the country this year.

Under Signal No. 1 are the eastern and central portions of mainland Cagayan (Piat, Santo Niño, Camalaniugan, Tuao, Lal-Lo, Enrile, Gonzaga, Alcala, Amulung, Santa Teresita, Baggao, Buguey, Solana, Rizal, Santa Ana, Tuguegarao City, Gattaran, Peñablanca, Iguig, Lasam, Aparri, Ballesteros, Allacapan and Abulug), Isabela, Quirino, the eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda, Kasibu, Dupax del Norte, Quezon, Diadi, Bayombong, Ambaguio, Bagabag, Villaverde, Aritao, Bambang, Dupax del Sur and Solano), the eastern and southern portions of Apayao (Conner, Flora, Pudtol, Santa Marcela, Luna and Kabugao), Kalinga, the eastern and central portions of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Sadanga, Bontoc, Natonin, Sabangan and Barlig), Ifugao, Aurora, the eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Bongabon, Gabaldon, Laur, General Tinio, Rizal, General Mamerto Natividad and Palayan City), and the northern portion of Mainland Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta and Real) including Polillo Islands.

The center of the eye of «Gener» was estimated some 315 kilometers east-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora.

Moving westward at 10 kilometers per hour (kph), the tropical depression has maximum sustained winds of 45 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

Gener is forecast to make landfall either in Isabela or Aurora within 24 hours, Pagasa said.

«It may move generally west to west southwest until Wednesday afternoon before turning west-northwestward to north-westward for the rest of the forecast period,» it said.

Gener may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Wednesday.