Signal No. 4 up over 7 areas as Nika nears landfall —PAGASA

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 is raised over seven areas in Luzon as Typhoon Nika (international name: Toraji) approaches Isabela and Aurora area on Monday morning, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals are hoisted in the following areas:

TCWS No. 4

• the northernmost portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran)
• 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)
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• the northern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Alfonso Lista, Banaue, Hungduan, Hingyon, Lagawe)
• the central and southern portion of Abra (Manabo, Pidigan, San Juan, Tayum, Langiden, Luba, Boliney, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Lagangilang, Tubo, Danglas, Villaviciosa, La Paz, Licuan-Baay, Pilar, Malibcong, Pe, San Isidro, Daguioman, San Quintin, Dolores, Lagayan, Bangued, Bucay, Lacub)
• the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur (Cabugao, Sinait, San Juan, San Emilio, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, Santiago, San Esteban, Burgos, Santa Maria, Magsingal, San Vicente, Santa Catalina, Nagbukel, San Ildefonso, City of Vigan, Caoayan, Santa, Bantay, Santo Domingo, Narvacan, Quirino, Cervantes, Sigay, Salcedo, Santa Lucia, City of Candon, Galimuyod, Gregorio del Pilar, Santa Cruz)

TCWS No. 3

• the central portion of Aurora (Dinalungan)
• the northern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Maddela)
• the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde, Kasibu, Ambaguio, Bayombong)
• the rest of Isabela
• the southwestern portion of Cagayan (Enrile, Solana, Tuao, Tuguegarao City, Rizal, Piat)
• the rest of Abra
• the rest of Ifugao
• the northern portion of Benguet (Buguias, Mankayan, Bakun)
• 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)
• the rest of Ilocos Sur

TCWS No. 2

• 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)
• the rest of Nueva Vizcaya
• the rest of Quirino
• the rest of Apayao
• the rest of Benguet
• the rest of Ilocos Norte
• La Union
• the northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan, Tayug)
• the central portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler)
• the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao, San Jose City)

TCWS No. 1

• Babuyan Islands
• the rest of mainland Cagayan
• the rest of Pangasinan
• the rest of Aurora
• the rest of Nueva Ecija
• Bulacan
• Pampanga
• Tarlac
• the northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso)
• Metro Manila
• Rizal
• the eastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Mabitac, Pakil, Pangil, Famy, Siniloan, Paete, Kalayaan, Cavinti, Lumban, Luisiana, Santa Cruz, Magdalena, Pagsanjan, Pila)
• the northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Infanta, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Mauban, Perez, Real, General Nakar, Calauag) including Pollilo Islands
• the northwestern portion of Camarines Norte (Capalonga, Santa Elena, Vinzons, Labo, Paracale, San Vicente, Talisay, Daet, Jose Panganiban)

PAGASA said Nika was last monitored 100 kilometers east southeast of Casiguran, Aurora moving west northwestward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph). It was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 180 kph.

“Nika may make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora this morning,” PAGASA said.

“The tropical cyclone will then traverse the landmass of mainland Luzon today and emerge over the sea west of Ilocos Sur this evening,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA said Nika may weaken into a severe tropical storm while passing mainland Luzon due to land interaction.

Nika is seen to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday morning or afternoon, according to PAGASA.

Storm surge

PAGASA said there is a “moderate to high risk” of storm surge in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Zambales, Aurora, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur.

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

Rains

Intense to torrential rains are expected over Aurora, Isabela, Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, and Apayao on Monday.

“Widespread incidents of severe flooding and landslides expected,” PAGASA said.

Heavy to intense may be experienced in Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union

“Numerous flooding events are likely, especially in areas that are urbanized, low lying, or near rivers. Landslide likely in moderate to highly susceptible areas,” PAGASA said.

Meanwhile, moderate to heavy rains are expected over Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Pangasinan.

“Localized flooding is possible mainly in areas that are urbanized, low lying, or near rivers. Landslide possible in highly susceptible areas,” PAGASA said.

Winds

Areas under TCWS No. 4 may experience significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds. TCWS No. 3 areas may encounter moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds.

Also, TCWS No. 2 areas may face minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds. TCWS No. 1 areas may experience minimal to minor impacts from strong winds

Due to the northeasterly wind flow, strong to gale-force gusts are expected over Batanes, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes on Monday.

Waves

A Gale Warning is raised over the eastern seaboard of Luzon and the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon.

Very rough or high seas (from 4.5 to 8.0 meters) are expected over the following coastal waters:

• 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

“Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels. All mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside,” PAGASA said.

Rough seas (from 3.0 to 4.0 meters) may be encountered in the following areas:

• 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.

Moderate seas (2.0 to 2.5 meters) may be experienced in the following coastal waters:

• Up to 2.5 m:The seaboard of Zambales; the eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon
• Up to 2.0 m: The northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar; the eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar; 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,” PAGASA said.

Tropical depression outside PAR

PAGASA is also monitoring a tropical depression outside the PAR.

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. —KBK/KG, GMA Integrated News