Severe Tropical Storm “Nika” is nearing the boundary of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and is about to exit, a weather forecaster said on Tuesday.
Nika was located 225 kilometers west-northwest of Laoag City, Ilocos Norte or 315 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan as of 10:00 a.m.
It packs maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 115 kph, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
“We expect that Nika would maintain the severe tropical storm category,” PAGASA forecaster Veronica Torres said in a briefing before noon.
Torres noted that even if Nika is about to exit PAR, several areas in Northern Luzon are still under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1: the northern portion of Ilocos Norte (Sarrat, Piddig, Bangui, Vintar, Burgos, Pagudpud, Bacarra, Adams, Pasuquin, Carasi, San Nicolas, Dumalneg, Laoag City); the northern portion of Apayao (Luna, Calanasan); the northwestern portion of Cagayan (Abulug, Pamplona, Sanchez-Mira, Santa Praxedes, Claveria); and the northwestern portion of Babuyan Islands (Calayan Is., Dalupiri Is., Fuga Is.).
The northeasterly wind flow will also bring strong to gale-force gusts across Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, and Isabela.
There is a minimal to moderate risk of storm surge that may occur in the next 24 hours in the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
Gale warning is hoisted over the western seaboard of Northern Luzon. Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.
‘Ofel’ strengthens
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm “Ofel” slightly intensified, packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.
Ofel was last tracked 950 kilometers east of Southeastern Luzon.
“It would reach its peak intensity prior to landfall over Northern or Central Luzon on Thursday,” Torres said.
Ofel has no direct effect on any part of the country yet, but TCWS No. 1 may be hoisted over portions of Cagayan Valley on Tuesday night or Wednesday.
It would also bring gale-force gusts across Catanduanes and moderate to heavy rains over several areas in Northern Luzon on Wednesday, Torres said. (PNA)