Signal No. 2 in 15 areas as Nika nears typhoon strength

Signal No. 2 was raised over 15 areas in Luzon as Severe Tropical Storm Nika nears typhoon strength, state weather bureau PAGASA said late Sunday afternoon.

According to the 5 p.m. PAGASA tropical cyclone bulletin, Nika has maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 135 km/h.

The following areas under Signal No. 2 may experience winds of greater than 62 km/h and up to 88 km/h in at least 24 hours, which may cause light to moderate damage to high-risk structures:

• northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler)
• Isabela
• Quirino
• the southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Solana, Iguig, Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Enrile, Baggao, Alcala, Amulung, Santo Niño, Rizal, Piat, Tuao, Gattaran, Lasam)
• Nueva Vizcaya
• the southern portion of Apayao (Kabugao, Conner, Flora, Pudtol
• Abra
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao, San Jose City)
• the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Narvacan, Nagbukel, Cervantes, Quirino, San Emilio, Santa Maria, Burgos, San Esteban, Santiago, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, City of Candon, Galimuyod, Salcedo, Gregorio del Pilar, Sigay, Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Suyo, Alilem, Tagudin, Sugpon)
• La Union
• the northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan, Tayug)

Signal No. 1 is hoisted over the following areas:

• the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• the rest of Apayao
• Ilocos Norte
• the rest of Ilocos Sur
• 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
• the northeastern portion of Albay (Malinao, Tiwi, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Rapu-Rapu)

Winds of 39 to 61 km/h are expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours and may cause very light or no damage to low risk structures.

The highest wind signal that may be raised during the occurrence of Nika is Signal No. 4, said PAGASA.

At 4 p.m., Nika was spotted 380 km east of Infanta, Quezon, moving westward at 20 km/h.

PAGASA also warned of strong to gale-force gusts over the coastal and upland areas of Batanes, Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes on Monday due to northeasterly wind flow.

PAGASA also warned that a moderate to high risk of storm surge may occur in the next 48 hours in the low-lying or exposed coastal localities of Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Zambales, Aurora, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes.

Currently, a gale warning is hoisted over the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon.

Nika is expected to reach typhoon category on Sunday and 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. Re-intensification may occur over the West Philippine Sea,” the state weather bureau said.

Nika is also seen to move generally west northwestward throughout the forecast period and may make landfall over Isabela or Aurora on Monday morning or early afternoon.

It will then traverse the landmass of mainland Northern Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea on Monday evening. It will continue moving west northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday afternoon or evening. — BM, GMA Integrated News