Tropical Depression Gener slightly intensifies

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Gener has slightly intensified and was forecast to make landfall in 24 hours over Isabela or Aurora in Northern Luzon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Monday.

Signal No. 1 was lifted in some Luzon areas despite the possibility of Gener intensifying into a tropical storm before it makes landfall.

Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Kalinga, Abra, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, and the northern portion of Quezon (General Nakar, Infanta and Real) including Polillo Islands remain under Signal No. 1.

Estimated some 325 kilometers east-northeast of Casiguran, Aurora, the tropical depression is moving west-southwestward slowly while packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 70 kph.

It is forecast to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility either on Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning, Pagasa said.