Nika now a tropical storm

More areas are now under Signal No. 1 as tropical cyclone Nika has strengthened into a tropical storm.

According to PAGASA's 5 p.m. Saturday bulletin, Nika has maximum sustained winds of 65 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 80 km/h.

At 4 p.m., Nika was located 1,005 km east of Southeastern Luzon, moving westward at 35 km/h.

Signal No. 1 was hoisted over the following areas:

• the southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue)
• the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan)
• the southeastern portion of mainland Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan)
• Pollilo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• the northeastern portion of Albay (Malinao, Tiwi, City of Tabaco, Bacacay, Malilipot, Rapu-Rapu)

''The highest wind signal [that] may be hoisted during the occurrence of Nika is Wind Signal No. 3,'' PAGASA said.

The 24-hour accumulated rainfall forecast is as follows:

Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon:
• Moderate to Heavy (50 – 100 mm)
Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes

Monday afternoon to Tuesday afternoon
• Intense to Torrential (>200 mm)
Cagayan, Apayao, and Isabela
• Heavy to Intense (100 – 200 mm)
Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Aurora
• Moderate to Heavy (50 – 100 mm)
Ifugao and Quirino

''Forecast rainfall may be higher in mountainous and elevated areas. Moreover, impacts in some areas maybe worsened by significant antecedent rainfall,'' PAGASA said.

PAGASA also said the northeasterly wind flow would bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas (especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds):

Sunday: Batanes, northern Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte

Before making landfall over Isabela or Aurora on Monday afternoon or evening, Nika is predicted to reach the severe tropical storm category on Monday morning, PAGASA said.

''Weakening is expected during its passage due to interaction with the terrain of mainland Luzon, but Nika will remain a severe tropical storm,'' it said. —VBL, GMA Integrated News