tropical storm 'Gener' continues to intensify

MANILA, Philippines - Tropical storm “Gener” continued to intensify yesterday as it moved toward extreme Northern Luzon, threatening to bring heavy rains and strong winds in the next few days, the weather bureau said.

Storm warning signal no. 2 remained hoisted over Cagayan, including the Calayan and Babuyan groups of islands, and Batanes group of islands as of 5 p.m. yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.

Signal number 1 was raised over Isabela, Kalinga and Apayao.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the center of the storm was spotted at 380 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour near center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.

Gener, the seventh tropical cyclone to enter the country this year, is expected to move north- northwest at 11 kph and dump 10 to 25 millimeters per hour of rain (classified as heavy-intense) within its 700-km radius.

PAGASA weather forecaster Jun Galang said Gener would continue to enhance the southwest monsoon, bringing rains over central and southern Luzon, the Visayas and northern Mindanao in the next day or two.

PAGASA weather division chief Robert Sawi said the southwest monsoon will continue to bring rains over Negros, Panay island, Mindoro, Batangas, Cavite, Bataan, Zambales and Metro Manila until today.

Galang warned residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under storm warning signals against possible landslides and flashfloods.