The low-pressure area (LPA) east of southeastern Luzon has turned into Tropical Depression (TD) Nika, according to the 11 a.m. bulletin Saturday of state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Catanduanes province is under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1.
“Nika” may make landfall over Isabela or Aurora on Monday. It is forecast to move generally west northwestward throughout the forecast period. Regardless of the position of the landfall point, hazards may still be experienced in areas outside the landfall point or forecast confidence cone.
PAGASA said the tropical cyclone is forecast to gradually intensify and may reach severe tropical storm category by Monday morning prior to landfall.
Weakening is expected during its passage due to interaction with the terrain of mainland Luzon, but will remain as a severe tropical storm.
Cagayan, Apayao and Isabela are forecast to experience intense to torrential rainfall on Monday and Tuesday; while it will be heavy to intense in Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province and Aurora.
As of posting time, the center of TD Nika was estimated based on all available data at 1,145 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) meanwhile said Saturday that one person was reported injured and one other missing during the onslaught of Typhoon Marce (international name: Yinxing).
The agency said both the injured and missing persons are in Region 1 and are for validation.
NDRRMC further reported that 21,273 families or 65,610 persons were affected by the effects of Marce, GMA News reported.
Of this number, 8,319 families or 24,369 individuals stayed in 365 evacuation centers while 3,810 families or 12,498 persons were served outside the evacuation centers.
The affected families and individuals were in Regions 1 and 2 and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). Rains brought about by “Marce” also caused three landslides in Region 2.
Forty-one road sections and 24 bridges were affected by the typhoon. Of this number, 11 roads are now passable.
