Tropical Depression Gener leaves PAR; Tropical Storm Helen stays far from land

MANILA, Philippines, September 18 ------ Tropical Depression Gener left the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at 2 am on Wednesday, September 18, but Gener and Tropical Storm Helen (Pulasan) continue to enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat. 

In a briefing past 5 am, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Gener was already 410 kilometers west of Bacnotan, La Union. The tropical depression slowed down, moving west toward Vietnam at 15 kilometers per hour from 25 km/h. It still has maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h, but could intensify into a tropical storm on Wednesday. 

Gener, which formed from a low pressure area inside PAR last Monday, September 16, caused moderate to intense rain in Northern Luzon, as well as parts of Central Luzon and Southern Luzon. It also brought strong winds, prompting the declaration of Signal No. 1. The tropical depression made landfall in Palanan, Isabela, at 11 pm on Monday, then crossed Northern Luzon. Meanwhile, Helen remains far from landmass, over the Philippine Sea. It was located 1,150 kilometers east northeast of extreme Northern Luzon at 4 am on Wednesday. The tropical storm also slowed down, moving west northwest at 25 km/h from 40 km/h. It maintained its strength, with maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h and gustiness of up to 105 km/h. There are no rainfall warnings or tropical cyclone wind signals due to Helen, which is not expected to directly affect any part of the country. The tropical storm may also leave PAR on Wednesday afternoon or evening. 

Helen, Gener, and the enhanced southwest monsoon are also affecting coastal waters on Wednesday. In a new gale warning at 5 am, PAGASA said rough to very rough seas are expected in several coastal waters in the western seaboards of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and the Visayas (waves 2.8 to 4.5 meters high). Travel is risky for small vessels. Outside gale warning areas, up to rough seas are also seen in the northern seaboards of Cagayan Valley and the Zamboanga Peninsula; the seaboards of Caraga and the Ilocos Region; the eastern seaboards of Bicol, the Davao Region, and Eastern Visayas; and the western and southern seaboards of Calabarzon and the Negros Island Region (waves 1 to 3.5 meters high). 

The remaining seaboards of the Philippines will have up to moderate seas (waves up to 2.5 meters high). Gener was the Philippines’ seventh tropical cyclone for 2024, while Helen is the eighth. They are also the third and fourth tropical cyclones, respectively, for September. 

Source: rappler.com