Severe tropical storm ‘Nika’ continues to move westward and may potentially evolve into a typhoon, state weather bureau PAGASA reported late Sunday afternoon, as it prepares to make a landfall in either Isabela or northern Aurora by Monday.
“Regardless of the position of the landfall point, it must be emphasized that hazards on land and coastal waters may still be experienced in areas outside the landfall point or forecast confidence cone,” state forecasters warned.
PAGASA said the latest weather disturbance may reach its peak intensity of around 130 kilometers per hour before its landfall. A short period of weakening is expected as ‘Nika’ traverses the landmass of Luzon. It may re-intensify when it emerges over the West Philippine Sea.
As of this posting, the highest tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) was raised at Level 2 across parts of Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, and Cordillera Administrative Region—almost the same as the areas affected in the recent onslaught of Typhoon ‘Marce.’
- TCWS No. 2 – The northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler), Isabela, Quirino, the southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Solana, Iguig, Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Enrile, Baggao, Alcala, Amulung, Santo Niño, Rizal, Piat, Tuao, Gattaran, Lasam), Nueva Vizcaya, the southern portion of Apayao (Kabugao, Conner, Flora, Pudtol), Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao, San Jose City), the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Narvacan, Nagbukel, Cervantes, Quirino, San Emilio, Santa Maria, Burgos, San Esteban, Santiago, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, City of Candon, Galimuyod, Salcedo, Gregorio del Pilar, Sigay, Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Suyo, Alilem, Tagudin, Sugpon), La Union, and the northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan, Tayug)
- TCWS No. 1 – The rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Apayao, Ilocos Norte, the rest of Ilocos Sur, the rest of Pangasinan, the rest of Aurora, Tarlac, the northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso), the rest of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, Metro Manila, Rizal, the eastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Mabitac, Pakil, Pangil, Famy, Siniloan, Paete, Kalayaan, Cavinti, Lumban, Luisiana, Santa Cruz, Magdalena, Pagsanjan, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Pila, Victoria), the eastern portion of Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Pitogo, San Andres, Buenavista, San Francisco, Pagbilao, Infanta, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Mauban, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, San Narciso, General Nakar, Lucban, City of Tayabas, Lucena City) including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and the northeastern portion of Albay (Malinao, Tiwi, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Rapu-Rapu)
PAGASA also warned of floods due to intense rains in Aurora and Isabela. Moderate to heavy rainfall advisory was issued for residents in Cagayan, Apayao, Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Quezon, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Northern Samar.
‘Nika’ is projected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday afternoon.
