MANILA – Severe Tropical Storm Nika (international name: Toraji) slightly decelerated over the Philippine Sea east of Aurora but is still forecast to reach typhoon category before landfall over Isabela and northern Aurora on Monday morning.
In its 8 p.m. bulletin on Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the center of Nika was located 335 kilometers east northeast of Infanta, Quezon with maximum sustained winds of 110 kph and gustiness of up to 135 kph.
“Nika is forecast to reach typhoon category today and may reach its peak intensity of around 130 kph prior to landfall. A short period of weakening is expected as NIKA traverses the landmass of Luzon due to land interaction,” PAGASA said.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 3 is hoisted over the southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue, Palanan) and the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan).
Areas under TCWS no. 2 are the southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Nueva Era, Solsona, Dingras, Marcos, Banna, City of Batac, Pinili, Paoay, Currimao, Badoc, Carasi, Piddig, Sarrat, San Nicolas, Laoag City), Ilocos Sur, La Union, the northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan, Tayug), the central portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler), the southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Solana, Iguig, Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Enrile, Baggao, Alcala, Amulung, Santo Niño, Rizal, Piat, Tuao, Gattaran, Lasam), the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the southern portion of Apayao (Kabugao, Conner, Flora, Pudtol, Calanasan), Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao, San Jose City).
TCWS no. 1 is declared over the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, the rest of Apayao, the rest of Ilocos Norte, 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). (PNA)