Typhoon “Nika” (international name: Toraji) further intensified while approaching the boundary of Isabela and Aurora, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 8 a.m. bulletin on Monday, Nov. 11.

PAGASA said Nika is expected to make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora in the next few hours.

The center of the typhoon was located 100 kilometers east-southeast of Casiguran, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts reaching 180 kph.

After landfall, it is expected to traverse mainland Luzon before emerging over the sea, west of Ilocos Sur, by Monday evening. 

The storm will continue west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and exit the Philippine area of responsibility by Tuesday morning or afternoon, Nov. 12.

Wind signals

PAGASA has warned of significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds in areas under Signal No. 4, which include the northernmost part of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran), central and southern parts 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, northern Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Alfonso Lista, Banaue, Hungduan, Hingyon, Lagawe), central and southern portions 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 northern and central parts 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).

Signal No. 3 has also been raised over the central part of Aurora (Dinalungan), northern Quirino (Diffun, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Maddela), northeastern Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde, Kasibu, Ambaguio, Bayombong), the rest of Isabela, southwestern Cagayan (Enrile, Solana, Tuao, Tuguegarao City, Rizal, Piat), the rest of Abra, the rest of Ifugao, northern Benguet (Buguias, Mankayan, Bakun), southern 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. Moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds are possible within the areas under Signal No. 3.

Meanwhile, Signal No. 2 remains in effect over 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, northeastern Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan, Tayug), central part of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler), and northern Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao, San Jose City). Minor to moderate impacts from gale-force winds are possible in areas under Signal No. 2.

Signal No. 1 is up over 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, eastern Laguna (Santa Maria, Mabitac, Pakil, Pangil, Famy, Siniloan, Paete, Kalayaan, Cavinti, Lumban, Luisiana, Santa Cruz, Magdalena, Pagsanjan, Pila), northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Infanta, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Mauban, Perez, Real, General Nakar, Calauag, including Pollilo Islands), and northwestern Camarines Norte (Capalonga, Santa Elena, Vinzons, Labo, Paracale, San Vicente, Talisay, Daet, Jose Panganiban).

Heavy rainfall, flooding

PAGASA also warned of moderate to heavy with, at times, intense rains that could lead to flooding and landslides across Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Aurora, and Nueva Ecija.

It also warned of possible flooding or landslides due to moderate to heavy rains in Metro Manila, the rest of Central Luzon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and Albay.

The trough or extension of Nika may also bring moderate to, at times, heavy rains across the rest of Luzon.