Manila, Philippines – Severe tropical storm Nika has strengthened into a typhoon as it approaches the boundary between Isabela and Aurora, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Monday, November 11.
In the latest 8:00 a.m. forecast, PAGASA noted that Nika could make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora later Monday morning, November 11. It will then traverse the landmass of mainland Luzon and travel over the sea west of Ilocos Sur evening on the same day.
The center of the eye is located at 100 kilometers (km) East Southeast of Casiguran, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (km/h).
The storm is moving west-northwest at 15 km/h, and strong winds extend outward of up to 180 km/h.
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 has been raised in the following areas:
- Northernmost portion of Aurora
- Central and southern portions of Isabela
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- Northern portion of Ifugao
- Central and southern portion of Abra
- Northern and central portions of Ilocos Sur
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3:
- Central portion of Aurora
- Northern portion of Quirino
- Northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya
- Rest of Isabela
- Southwestern portion of Cagayan
- Rest of Abra
- Rest of Ifugao
- Northern portion of Benguet
- Southern portion of Ilocos Norte
- Rest of Ilocos Sur
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2:
- Northwestern and eastern portions of Cagayan,
- Rest of Nueva Vizcaya
- Rest of Quirino
- Rest of Apayao
- Rest of Benguet
- Rest of Ilocos Norte
- La Union
- Northeastern portion of Pangasinan
- Central portion of Aurora
- Northern portion of Nueva Ecija
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1:
- Babuyan Islands
- Rest of mainland Cagayan
- Rest of Pangasinan
- Rest of Aurora
- Rest of Nueva Ecija
- Bulacan
- Pampanga
- Tarlac
- Northern and central portions of Zambales
- Metro Manila
- Rizal
- Eastern portion of Laguna
- Northern and eastern portions of Quezon including Pollilo Islands
- Northwestern portion of Camarines Norte
It is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by tomorrow, November 12 as it continues to move west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea.