Severe Tropical Storm “Nika” (international name: Toraji) continued its northwestward movement over the West Philippine Sea on Monday evening, Nov. 11, and is expected to exit the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Tuesday morning, Nov. 12, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA reported that the center of Nika was located 80 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur. The severe tropical storm has maintained maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 150 kph.

As Nika moves away from the country, Wind Signal No. 3 has been lifted, but Signal No. 2 remains in effect over the following areas: Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Abra.

Signal No. 1 is also still raised over La Union, northwestern portion of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Bani, City of Alaminos, Agno, Sual, Anda), Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, Cagayan (including Babuyan Islands), and northwestern portion of Isabela (San Pablo, Santa Maria, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Mallig, Roxas, San Manuel, Aurora, Quirino, Burgos, Tumauini, Gamu, San Mateo, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Cabatuan, Ilagan City).

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the tropical depression it has been monitoring intensified into a tropical storm and is on track to enter the PAR soon.

As of 10 p.m., the center of the tropical storm was located 1,185 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas. It has maximum sustained winds of 65 kph near its center and gusts reaching 80 kph.

If the storm maintains its westward movement at 35 kph, it is expected to enter the PAR by Tuesday morning and be named “Ofel.”

PAGASA also said the storm could make landfall over Northern or Central Luzon on Thursday afternoon or evening, Nov. 14.

The weather disturbance will likely intensify in the next three days and could reach typhoon strength by Wednesday, Nov. 13.