“Nika” has intensified into a severe tropical storm and is currently undergoing rapid intensification, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Sunday.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin, the weather bureau said Nika ((international name: Toraji) center was located at 690 kilometers east of Infanta town, Quezon province.
It has maximum sustained winds of 100 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kph while moving west-northwestward at 30 kph.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 has been hoisted over the southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue) and the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan).
Areas under TCWS no. 1 include The southern portion of Cagayan (Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Enrile, Solana, Iguig), the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the southeastern portion of Kalinga (City of Tabuk, Rizal, Tanudan), the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Natonin, Barlig), Ifugao, the eastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Tayug, Natividad, San Quintin, Umingan), the rest of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, the northeastern portion of Pampanga (Candaba, Arayat), and the northern and eastern portions of Bulacan (Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Angat).
Also under TCWS no. 1 are 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) including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and the northeastern portion of Albay (Malinao, Tiwi, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Rapu-Rapu).
PAGASA said Nika is forecast to make landfall over the province of Isabela or Aurora on Monday afternoon.
”Regardless of the position of the landfall point, it must be emphasized that hazards may still be experienced in areas outside the landfall point or within the forecast confidence cone,” it added.
The weather bureau also said Nika is currently undergoing rapid intensification and may reach typhoon category on Sunday.
“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,” it said.
The highest wind signal that may be hoisted during the occurrence of Nika is TCWS No. 4.
PAGASA said the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur will experience moderate to heavy rains.
The northeasterly wind flow will also bring strong to gale-force gusts over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, northern Cagayan, and Ilocos Norte on Sunday. (PNA)