MANILA, Philippines — Signal No. 2 has been raised over the southeastern portion of Isabela (Dinapigue) and the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran and Dinalungan) as Nika intensified into a severe tropical storm, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Sunday.
Signal No. 1 is up over the southern portion of Cagayan (Tuguegarao City, Peñablanca, Enrile, Solana and Iguig), the rest of Isabela, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, the southeastern portion of Kalinga (City of Tabuk, Rizal and Tanudan), the eastern portion of Mountain Province (Paracelis, Natonin and Barlig), Ifugao, the eastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Tayug, Natividad, San Quintin and Umingan), the rest of Aurora, Nueva Ecija, the northeastern portion of Pampanga (Candaba and Arayat), the northern and eastern portions of Bulacan (Norzagaray, San Miguel, San Ildefonso, San Rafael, Doña Remedios Trinidad and Angat), the eastern portion of Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Pitogo, San Andres, Buenavista, San Francisco, Pagbilao, Infanta, Lopez, Catanauan, Mulanay, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Mauban, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, San Narciso and General Nakar) including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, and the northeastern portion of Albay (Malinao, Tiwi, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot and Rapu-Rapu).
The center of Nika was estimated 690 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon while moving west-northwestward at 30 kilometers per hour (kph),
Because of its rapid intensification, Nika may reach typhoon category within the day, Pagasa administrator Nathaniel Servando told The Manila Times.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin, Pagasa said the severe tropical storm had maximum sustained winds of 100 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 125 kph.
Servando said the severe tropical storm may make landfall in Isabela or Aurora Monday afternoon.
The weather agency said Eastern Visayas, Cordillera Administrative Region, the rest of Bulacan, the rest of Cagayan Valley and Bicol Region would likely have scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the trough of Nika.
Metro Manila and the rest of the country would have isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to localized thunderstorms.
