MANILA – Some areas in Northern Luzon are still under tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) No. 4 as Typhoon Nika (international name Toraji) traverses Luzon landmass, the weather bureau said shortly before 6 p.m. Monday.
Nika was located in the vicinity of Besao, Mountain Province as of 4 p.m. and is forecast to emerge over the sea west of Ilocos Sur on Monday night.
The typhoon packs maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 200 kph.
Typhoon-force winds will prevail in areas under TCWS No. 4: Kalinga, Mountain Province, the northern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Alfonso Lista, Banaue, Hungduan, Hingyon, Lagawe), the central and southern portion of Abra (Manabo, Pidigan, San Juan, Tayum, Langiden, Luba, Boliney, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Lagangilang, Tubo, Danglas, Villaviciosa, La Paz, Licuan-Baay, Pilar, Malibcong, Peñarrubia, San Isidro, Daguioman, San Quintin, Dolores, Lagayan, Bangued, Bucay, Lacub), and the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur (Cabugao, Sinait, San Juan, San Emilio, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, Santiago, San Esteban, Burgos, Santa Maria, Magsingal, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Nagbukel, San Ildefonso, City of Vigan, Caoayan, Santa, Bantay, Santo Domingo, Narvacan, Quirino, Cervantes, Sigay, Salcedo, Santa Lucia, City of Candon, Galimuyod, Gregorio del Pilar, Santa Cruz).
TCWS No. 3 is hoisted over the northern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Maddela), the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde, Kasibu, Ambaguio, Bayombong), the central portion of Isabela (Santo Tomas, Santa Maria, San Mariano, Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, San Guillermo, City of Cauayan, Gamu, Naguilian, Alicia, Angadanan, San Isidro, City of Santiago, Echague, Jones, San Agustin, Delfin Albano, Quirino, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Luna, Cabagan, Tumauini, San Pablo, Quezon, Mallig, Roxas, San Manuel, Aurora, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Ramon, Cordon), the southwestern portion of Cagayan (Enrile, Solana, Tuao, Tuguegarao City, Rizal, Piat), the southern portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao), the rest of Abra, the rest of Ifugao, the northern portion of Benguet (Buguias, Mankayan, Bakun), the southern portion of Ilocos Norte (Laoag City, Sarrat, San Nicolas, Piddig, Marcos, Nueva Era, Dingras, Bacarra, Solsona, Paoay, Currimao, Pinili, Badoc, City of Batac, Banna), and the rest of Ilocos Sur. Those areas will experience storm-force winds.
Areas under TCWS No. 2 will experience gale-force winds: the northwestern and eastern portions of Cagayan (Iguig, Peñablanca, Baggao, Alcala, Amulung, Santo Niño, Gattaran, Lasam, Santa Praxedes, Claveria, Sanchez-Mira, Pamplona, Abulug, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Lal-Lo, Aparri, Camalaniugan, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga), the rest of Isabela, the rest of Nueva Vizcaya, the rest of Quirino, the rest of Apayao, the rest of Benguet, the rest of Ilocos Norte, La Union, the northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan, Tayug), the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler, Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan), and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao, San Jose City).
Strong winds will prevail in areas where TCWS No. 1 is hoisted: Babuyan Islands, the rest of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Pangasinan, the rest of Aurora, the rest of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, the northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso), the northeastern portion of Quezon (General Nakar) including Polillo Island.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the northeasterly wind flow will also bring strong to gale-force gusts across Batanes, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.
Intense to torrential rains are forecast in Aurora, Cagayan, Abra, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Benguet, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga and Apayao.
Heavy to intense rains will prevail in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela and La Union.
Moderate to heavy rains are likely in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Pangasinan.
Forecast rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas, PAGASA said.
There is a moderate to high risk of storm surge that may occur in the next 48 hours in the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Zambales and Aurora.
Meanwhile, gale warning is hoisted over the eastern seaboard of Luzon and the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon. Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.
PAGASA forecast Nika to weaken into a severe tropical storm while traversing mainland Luzon due to land interaction.
The typhoon is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Tuesday, PAGASA said. (PNA)