Signal No. 4 up over 6 Luzon areas as Typhoon Nika intensifies

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 was raised on Monday morning over six areas in Luzon as Nika (international name: Toraji) intensified into a typhoon while over the sea east of Aurora, PAGASA said.

The areas under TCWS No. 4 are:

1. the northernmost portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran);
2. the central and southern portions of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Jones, Echague, Ramon, San Isidro, City of Santiago, Cordon, Roxas, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, Gamu, San Manuel, Aurora, San Mateo, Cabatuan, Alicia, Luna, City of Cauayan, Angadanan, Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, Ilagan City, Delfin Albano, San Agustin);
3. the southeastern portion of Abra (Tubo, Boliney, Daguioman, Bucloc, Malibcong);
4. the central and eastern portions of Mountain Province (Sadanga, Bontoc, Barlig, Natonin, Paracelis);
5. the eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Alfonso Lista); and
6. the western and southern portions of Kalinga (Tanudan, Tinglayan, Pasil, Lubuagan, Balbalan, City of Tabuk).

PAGASA said areas under TCWS No. 4 may possibly have significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds with speeds of 118 to 184 km/h in 12 hours.

Nika may possibly make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora on Monday morning, the weather bureau said.

TCWS No. 3 meanwhile was hoisted over:

1. the northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan);
2. the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde, Kasibu, Ambaguio, Bayombong);
3. the northern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Maddela);
4. the rest of Isabela;
5. the southwestern portion of Cagayan (Enrile, Solana, Tuao, Tuguegarao City, Rizal, Piat);
6. the rest of Abra;
7. the southern portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao);
8.  the rest of Kalinga;
9. the rest of Mountain Province;
10. the rest of Ifugao;
11. the northern portion of Benguet (Buguias, Mankayan, Bakun);
12. 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
13. Ilocos Sur.

Areas under TCWS No.3 will feel moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds with speeds of 89 to 117 km/h in 18 hours, PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, TCWS No.2 is in effect over:

1. the central portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler);
2. the rest of Nueva Vizcaya;
3. the rest of Quirino;
4. 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);
5. the rest of Apayao;
6. the rest of Benguet;
7. the rest of Ilocos Norte;
8. La Union;
9. the northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan, Tayug); and
10. the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao, San Jose City).

The above-mentioned areas under TCWS No. 2 may have minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds with speeds of 62 to 88 km/h in 24 hours.

The following areas on the other hand are under TCWS No. 1:

1. the rest of Aurora;
2. the rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands;
3. the rest of Pangasinan;
4. the rest of Nueva Ecija;
5. Bulacan;
6. Pampanga;
7. Tarlac;
8. the northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso);
9. Metro Manila;
10. Rizal;
11. 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);
12. the northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Calauag, Infanta, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Mauban, Perez, Real, General Nakar, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan) including Pollilo Islands;
13. Camarines Norte; and
14. the northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Garchitorena, Lagonoy).

Areas under TCWS No. 1 may have minimal to minor impacts from strong winds with speeds of 39 to 61 km/h in 36 hours.

Nika's center was last estimated to be at 100 km east southeast of Casiguran, Aurora at 4 a.m. Monday.

The typhoon is moving west northwestward at 20 km/h, with maximum sustained winds of 120 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 150 km/h.

From Nika's center, strong to typhoon-force winds are extending outwards up to 340 km.

Rainfall

According to PAGASA's heavy rainfall outlook due to Nika, the provinces of Aurora, Isabela, Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, and Apayao will have intense to torrential rains of up to >200 mm on Monday.

Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and La Union may expect heavy to intense rains measuring 100 to 200 mm on Monday.

Meanwhile, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Pangasinan will have moderate to heavy rains measuring 50 to 100 mm today.

Winds

Strong to gale-force gusts will be felt today in the following areas, especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds, due to the northeasterly wind flow: Batanes, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes.

Coastal waters

PAGASA issued a gale warning over the eastern seaboard of Luzon and the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon.

The following coastal waters will have up to very rough or high seas:

• Up to 8.0 m: The seaboards of Isabela and northern Aurora
• Up to 5.5 m: The remaining seaboard of Aurora; the eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan
• Up to 5.0 m: The seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur
• Up to 4.5 m: The northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; the seaboard of Camarines Norte, the northern seaboards of Camarines Sur and Catanduanes

PAGASA warned that sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.

The coastal waters will be rough meanwhile over:

• Up to 4.0 m: The seaboard of Babuyan Islands; the northern seaboard of mainland Cagayan
• Up to 3.5 m: The seaboard of Batanes; the remaining seaboards of Ilocos Region
• Up to 3.0 m: The eastern seaboard of mainland Quezon; the remaining seaboard of Polillo Islands; the eastern seaboard of Catanduanes

"Mariners of small seacrafts, including all types of motorbancas, are advised not to venture out to sea under these conditions, especially if inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels," PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, coastal waters will be moderate over the seaboard of Zambales; the eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon; the northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar; the eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar; and the seaboard of Kalayaan Islands.

"Mariners of motorbancas and similarly-sized vessels are advised to take precautionary measures while venturing out to sea and, if possible, avoid navigation under these conditions," the weather bureau said.

Track, intensity outlook

"NIKA is forecast to move generally west northwestward until Thursday (14 November) before turning generally southwestward on Friday (15 November) onwards. On the track forecast, it may make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora this morning," PAGASA said.

It may weaken while traversing the Luzon landmass then emerge over the sea west of Ilocos Sur on Monday evening.

Nika will then move west northwestward over the West Philippine Sea then exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday morning or afternoon.

PAGASA advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned to take all necessary measures to protect life and property.

The next tropical cyclone bulletin will be issued by PAGASA at 8 a.m.

Tropical depression outside PAR

Meanwhile, the low pressure area (LPA) outside PAR developed into a tropical depression, state weather bureau PAGASA said on Monday.

In its 5 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said the tropical depression may enter PAR on Tuesday and will be named “Ofel.”

The tropical depression was located 1,620 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas with maximum sustained winds of 45 km per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

It was moving west northwestward at kph.

“The TD may make landfall over Northern or Central Luzon on Thursday (14 November) evening or Friday (15 November) early morning,” PAGASA said.

Preparations, classes

Classes have been suspended in some areas due to the bad weather caused by Nika.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government also ordered mayors and governors in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley and Cordillera Administrative Region to conduct preemptive evacuation  of hundreds of barangays.  

Meanwhile, the expanded number coding scheme in Metro Manila is suspended on Monday, November 11, amid the bad weather caused by Nika, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said. —KG, GMA Integrated News