NIKA PH is intensifying and has now become a typhoon as it approaches Isabela and Aurora’s boundaries. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 has now activated in numerous areas of Luzon.
Typhoon Marce made landfall on the country’s north coast last Thursday, causing extensive devastation. Weeks before that, Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Super Typhoon Leon killed 158 people.
Photo Courtesy: PAGASA-DOST
This year has seen a number of powerful typhoons hit the Philippines. Typhoon Nika is now the next to make landfall in the country, with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h and gusts up to 180 km/h.
Typhoon level
According to the state weather bureau PAGASA, the northeasterly wind flow will bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas, particularly coastal and upland areas exposed to winds:
• Today (11 November): Batanes, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes
• Tomorrow (12 November): Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, and Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
Furthermore, PAGASA stated that there is a moderate to high chance of storm surge occurring in the next 48 hours in low-lying or exposed coastal areas.
These are Ilocos Norte, Locos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan (containing the Babuyan Islands), Isabela, Zambales, Aurora, Quezon (including the Polillo Islands), Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur.
Signal Numbers
Wind Signal No. 4 is already up in numerous regions. A very powerful typhoon with winds greater than 118 km/h and up to 184 km/h is forecast to hit the area during the next 12 hours, according to the TWCS number.
Photo Courtesy: PAGASA-DOST
It includes the northernmost section of Aurora, the central and southern portions of Isabela, Kalinga, Mountain Province, the northernmost portion of Ifugao, the central and southern portions of Abra, and the northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur.
Signal No. 3 is now active in the central portion of Aurora, the northern portion of Quirino, the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya, the remainder of Isabela, and the southwestern portion of Cagayan. Also included are the rest of Abra, Ifugao, northern Benguet, southern Ilocos Norte, and the rest of Ilocos Sur.
Signal No. 2 covers the northwestern and eastern portions of Cagayan, 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, the central portion of Aurora, and the northern portion of Nueva Ecija.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila is under Signal No. 1, so are the Babuyan Islands, the remainder of mainland Cagayan, the rest of Pangasinan, the rest of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac.
Northern and central Zambales, Rizal, the eastern half of Laguna, northern and eastern Quezon, including the Polillo Islands, and northwestern Camarines Norte.
Latest forecast
According to the most recent forecast, Typhoon Nika will travel west northwestward till Thursday (14 November) before turning southwestward on Friday (15 November).
Based on the track forecast, the typhoon might make landfall around Isabela or northern Aurora this morning. Nika will then travel the length of mainland Luzon today, emerging over the sea west of Ilocos Sur this evening.
Regardless of the position of the landfall point, PAGASA also highlighted that it is important to note that dangers on land and in coastal seas may still occur in places beyond the forecast confidence cone.
Following that, NIKA will continue to sail west northwestward across the West Philippine Sea, leaving the Philippine Area of Responsibility by tomorrow (12 November) morning or afternoon.
Due to land interaction, this tropical cyclone may weaken into a severe tropical storm as it moves across mainland Luzon.
How useful was this post?
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.
We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!
Let us improve this post!
Tell us how we can improve this post?