QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The center of the eye of Typhoon Nika (Toraji) made landfall in the vicinity of Dilasag town in Aurora province at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, state weather bureau PAGASA said.
In its 11 a.m. weather advisory, PAGASA said that Nika’s center was spotted in the vicinity of San Agustin, Isabela.
Nika packed maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (KPH) near the center and gustiness of up to 180 kph, traversing northern Luzon on its northwestward track at 25 kph, with its strong to typhoon-force winds extending outwards up to 340 km from its center.
Signal No. 4 is in effect over:
• 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)
The range of wind speeds under this signal is from 118 to 184 kph, with significant to severe threats to life and property.
Signal No. 3 over:
• 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 southern portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao), 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
The range of wind speeds under the signal is from 89 to 117 kph, with moderate to significant threats to life and property.
Furthermore, the northeasterly wind flow will bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas (especially in coastal and upland areas exposed to winds):
• Monday, Nov. 11: Batanes, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes
• Tuesday, Nov. 12: Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, and Isabela.
Coastal hazards
A gale warning is hoisted over the eastern seaboard of Luzon and the northern and western seaboards of Northern Luzon.
Up to very rough or high seas over the following coastal waters:
• Up to 8.0 m: The seaboards of Isabela and northern Aurora
• Up to 5.5 m: The remaining seaboard of Aurora; the eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan
• Up to 5.0 m: The seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur
• Up to 4.5 m: The northern and eastern seaboards of the Polillo Islands; the seaboard of Camarines Norte; the northern seaboards of Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.
Sea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels. All mariners must remain in port or, if underway, seek shelter or safe harbor as soon as possible until winds and waves subside.
Nika track
Typhoon Nika will cross the mainland Luzon landmass on Nov. 11 and emerge over the sea west of Ilocos Sur this afternoon or evening.
It will then move west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Tuesday, Nov. 12, morning or afternoon.
It is forecast to continue to move generally west-northwestward until Thursday, Nov. 14, before turning generally southwestward on Friday, Nov. 15 onwards. (PIA DMD)
