Nika makes landfall over Dilasag, Aurora

Typhoon Nika (international name: Toraji) made landfall in the vicinity of Dilasag, Aurora on Monday morning, according to state weather bureau PAGASA.

“At 8:10 AM today, based on all available data including from Baler Weather Radar, the center of the eye of Typhoon #NikaPH (TORAJI) has made landfall in the vicinity of Dilasag, Aurora,” PAGASA said on its Facebook account.

Also in it 8 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 was raised over seven areas in Luzon.

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); and
• 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); and
• 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); and
• 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; and
• the northwestern portion of Camarines Norte (Capalonga, Santa Elena, Vinzons, Labo, Paracale, San Vicente, Talisay, Daet, Jose Panganiban).

PAGASA said in its 8 a.m. bulletin Nika was packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 180 kph.

The center of Nika was estimated to be located at 100 km east southeast of Casiguran, Aurora.

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

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

Tropical depression outside PAR

Meanwhile, PAGASA said it was 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, packing 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, class suspensions

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. — RSJ/KG, GMA Integrated News