Severe Tropical Storm ‘Nika’ (international name: Toraji) maintains its strength as it moves westward over the Philippine sea east of Quezon, the state weather bureau said on Sunday.
According to the latest 11 AM advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), ‘Nika’ is moving westward at 30 kilometers per hour with maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kilometers per hour.
Its center was last estimated at 500 km east of Infanta, Quezon.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is raised over the northern and central portions of Aurora, Isabela, Quirino, the southern portion of Cagayan, Nueva Vizcaya, Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ifugao.
Meanwhile, TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Apayao, Abra, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, the eastern and central portions of Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, the rest of Aurora, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, the northern portion of Metro Manila, Rizal, the northeastern portion of Laguna, the eastern portion of Quezon, including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Albay.
The weather disturbance will continue moving generally west northwestward throughout the forecast period, while on the track forecast, it may make landfall over Isabela or Aurora tomorrow morning or early afternoon.
“Nika is forecast to reach typhoon category today and may reach its peak intensity prior to landfall. A short period of weakening is expected as Nika traverses the landmass of Luzon due to land interaction. Re-intensification may occur over the West Philippine Sea,” PAGASA warned.
PAGASA also warned that regardless of the position of the landfall point, hazards may still be experienced in areas outside the landfall point or within the forecast confidence cone.
“Nika will continue moving west northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday afternoon or evening.”
