Tropical Depression Nika (international name: Toraji) has intensified into a severe tropical storm and is currently undergoing rapid intensification, the state weather bureau said on Sunday.
According to the latest 5 AM advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), ‘Nika’ is moving west northwestward 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 690 km east of Infanta, Quezon.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 is raised over the southeastern portion of Isabela and the northern portion of Aurora while TCWS No. 1 is hoisted over the southern portion of Cagaya, the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the southeastern portion of Kalinga, the eastern portion of Mountain Province, Ifugao, the eastern portion of Pangasinan, the rest of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, the northeastern portion of Pampanga, the northern and eastern portions of Bulacan, the eastern portion of Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and the northeastern portion of Albay.
The weather disturbance will continue moving generally west northwestward throughout the forecast period.
On the track forecast, it may make landfall over Isabela or Aurora tomorrow afternoon.
“This tropical cyclone is currently undergoing rapid intensification and may reach typhoon category today. It 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, but Nika may slightly intensify over the West Philippine Sea but is expected to remain as a severe tropical storm throughout the rest of forecast period,” PAGASA warned.
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.
