By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan, PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

–Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Saturday placed five areas under public storm warning signal No. 1 as tropical depression “Gener” moved closer to extreme Northern Luzon.

Public storm warning Signal No. 1 was hoisted over Isabela, Cagayan, Calayan Group of Islands, Babuyan Group of Islands and Batanes Group of Islands, which means winds of 45-60 kph are expected within the next 36 hours.

“Residents living in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signal No. 1 are alerted against possible flashfloods and landslides,” the weather agency said.

PAGASA said that based on satellite and surface data as of 4 p.m. Saturday, the center of Gener was estimated at 240 km Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, or 450 km East Southeast of Casiguran Aurora (15.4°N 126.3°E), with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometer per hour (kph) near the center.

PAGASA said Gener was expected to bring some 10 – 25 millimeters of rainfall per hour (heavy – intense) within the 400-km diameter of the tropical depression. It would also push southwest monsoon to bring rains over Southern Luzon, including Metro Manila and the Visayas, and Mindanao especially the western section.

The weather agency said that fishing boats and other small seacraft were advised not to venture out into the seaboards of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao due to the combined effect of Gener and the southwest monsoon.

According to PAGASA, Gener was forecast to move North Northwest at 15 kph and expected to be out in Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday evening, heaading towards Taiwan.

Gener is expected to be at 290 km Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora on Sunday afternoon, then 130 km Northeast of Basco, Batanes on Monday afternoon and 380 km North of Basco, Batanes on Tuesday afternoon