By: Aliahcorr Balanon
Photo from: DOST PAGASA
Typhoon Nika has made landfall over Dilasag, Aurora and is currently traversing Northern Luzon, placing 6 areas under Signal No. 4. PAGASA also reported on Monday, Nov. 11, that the low-pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility has intensified into a Tropical Depression, and will be named ‘Ofel’ once it enters the PAR on Tuesday, Nov. 12.
As of 5 AM on Monday, Nov. 11, Typhoon Nika with the international name Toraji, was last spotted 100 kilometers east south-east. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph with gusts of up to 150 kph, and moving west-northwestward at 20 kph.
Due to these developments, PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 4 in 6 Luzon areas:
Northernmost portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran)
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)
Southeastern portion of Abra (Tubo, Boliney, Daguioman, Bucloc, Malibcong)
Central and eastern portions of Mountain Province (Sadanga, Bontoc, Barlig, Natonin, Paracelis)?Eastern portion of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Alfonso Lista)
Western and southern portions of Kalinga (Tanudan, Tinglayan, Pasil, Lubuagan, Balbalan, City of Tabuk)
Meanwhile, the following areas were placed under TCWS No. 3:
Northern portion of Aurora (Dinalungan)
Northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde, Kasibu, Ambaguio, Bayombong)
Northern portion of Quirino (Diffun, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Maddela)
The rest of Isabela
Southwestern portion of Cagayan (Enrile, Solana, Tuao, Tuguegarao City, Rizal, Piat)
The rest of Abra
The southern portion of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao)
The rest of Kalinga
The rest of Mountain Province
The rest of Ifugao
Northern portion of Benguet (Buguias, Mankayan, Bakun)
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)
Ilocos Sur
PAGASA also raised TCWS No. 2 in the following areas:
Central portion of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler)
The rest of Nueva Vizcaya
The rest of Quirino
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 Apayao
The rest of Benguet
The rest of Ilocos Norte, La Union
Northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan, Tayug)
Northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao, San Jose City)
The following areas were also placed by PAGASA under TCWS No. 1:
The rest of Aurora
The rest of Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands
The rest of Pangasinan
The rest of Nueva Ecija
Bulacan
Pampanga
Tarlac
Northern and central portions of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso)
Metro Manila
Rizal
Eastern portion of Laguna (Santa Maria, Mabitac, Pakil, Pangil, Famy, Siniloan, Paete, Kalayaan, Cavinti, Lumban, Luisiana, Santa Cruz, Magdalena, Pagsanjan, Majayjay, Liliw, Nagcarlan, Pila, Victoria)
Northern and eastern portions of Quezon (Calauag, Infanta, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Mauban, Perez, Real, General Nakar, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan) including Pollilo Islands
Camarines Norte
Northeastern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Garchitorena, Lagonoy)
As of the Weather Advisory No. 13 issued 11 AM on Monday for Typhoon Nika, severe winds are expected in areas under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 3 and 4.
Coastal localities particularly in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Isabela, Zambales, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, and Camarines Sur will experience a moderate to high risk of storm surge that may occur in the next 48 hours.
Hazards on lands and coastal waters may still be experienced in areas outside the forecast confidence cone.
PAGASA expects Nika will move north westward and exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Nov. 12, Tuesday morning or afternoon.
15TH TROPICAL CYCLONE
Meanwhile, as of PAGASA’s 5 AM bulletin, a tropical depression was last spotted 1,620 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour.
It is moving west-northwestward at 35 kilometers per hour and may enter the PAR on Tuesday morning to be named ‘Ofel’ marking the 15th Tropical Cyclone to enter the country this year.
According to PAGASA, the tropical depression is forecasted to intensify into typhoon category within the next 3 days and “hit land at or near its peak intensity.”
“The tropical depression may make landfall over Northern or Central Luzon on Nov. 14, Thursday evening, or Nov. 15, Friday early morning,” the state weather bureau added.