Typhoon Nika (Toraji) is set to make landfall in Isabela or Aurora on Monday, November 11. Aside from Nika, PAGASA is now monitoring two new tropical cyclones outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
MANILA, Philippines – Nika (Toraji) strengthened from a severe tropical storm into a typhoon before dawn on Monday, November 11, prompting the declaration of Signal No. 4 in parts of Luzon.
Nika now has maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour from the previous 110 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in a briefing past 5 am on Monday. Its gustiness is now up to 150 km/h from 135 km/h.
The typhoon was already 100 kilometers east southeast of Casiguran, Aurora, as of 4 am. It is moving west northwest at 20 km/h, slightly slower than the 25 km/h earlier on Monday.
Nika is projected to make landfall in Isabela or Aurora on Monday morning, then cross mainland Luzon before emerging over the sea west of Ilocos Sur on Monday evening.
PAGASA said Nika “may further intensify over the next hours prior to landfall,” but it could weaken back into a severe tropical storm while crossing mainland Luzon.
Here are the areas under tropical cyclone wind signals as of 5 am on Monday:
Signal No. 4
Typhoon-force winds (118 to 184 km/h), significant to severe threat to life and property
- northernmost part of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran)
- central and southern parts of Isabela (Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Jones, Echague, Ramon, San Isidro, Santiago City, Cordon, Roxas, Burgos, Reina Mercedes, Naguilian, Benito Soliven, Gamu, San Manuel, Aurora, San Mateo, Cabatuan, Alicia, Luna, Cauayan City, Angadanan, Quezon, Mallig, Quirino, Ilagan City, Delfin Albano, San Agustin)
- southeastern part of Abra (Tubo, Boliney, Daguioman, Bucloc, Malibcong)
- central and eastern parts of Mountain Province (Sadanga, Bontoc, Barlig, Natonin, Paracelis)
- eastern part of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Alfonso Lista)
- western and southern parts of Kalinga (Tanudan, Tinglayan, Pasil, Lubuagan, Balbalan, Tabuk City)
Signal No. 3
Storm-force winds (89 to 117 km/h), moderate to significant threat to life and property
- northern part of Aurora (Dinalungan)
- northeastern part of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde, Kasibu, Ambaguio, Bayombong)
- northern part of Quirino (Diffun, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Maddela)
- rest of Isabela
- southwestern part of Cagayan (Enrile, Solana, Tuao, Tuguegarao City, Rizal, Piat)
- rest of Abra
- southern part of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao)
- rest of Kalinga
- rest of Mountain Province
- rest of Ifugao
- northern part of Benguet (Buguias, Mankayan, Bakun)
- southern part of Ilocos Norte (Laoag City, Sarrat, San Nicolas, Piddig, Marcos, Nueva Era, Dingras, Bacarra, Solsona, Paoay, Currimao, Pinili, Badoc, Batac City, Banna)
- Ilocos Sur
Signal No. 2
Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property
- central part of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler)
- rest of Nueva Vizcaya
- rest of Quirino
- northwestern and eastern parts 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)
- rest of Apayao
- rest of Benguet
- rest of Ilocos Norte
- La Union
- northeastern part of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan, Tayug)
- northern part of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao, San Jose City)
Signal No. 1
Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property
- rest of Aurora
- rest of Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
- rest of Pangasinan
- rest of Nueva Ecija
- Bulacan
- Pampanga
- Tarlac
- northern and central parts of Zambales (Santa Cruz, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, Iba, Botolan, Cabangan, San Marcelino, San Felipe, San Narciso)
- Metro Manila
- Rizal
- eastern part 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 parts of Quezon (Calauag, Infanta, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Mauban, Perez, Real, General Nakar, Tagkawayan, Guinayangan) including Polillo Islands
- Camarines Norte
- northeastern part of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Garchitorena, Lagonoy)
The northeasterly windflow is bringing strong to gale-force gusts to these areas, too:
Monday, November 11
- Batanes, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Lubang Island, Marinduque, Romblon, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes
Tuesday, November 12
- Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
PAGASA’s latest rainfall advisory issued at 5 am on Monday shows 20 provinces in Luzon experiencing serious rain from Nika, which may trigger floods and landslides.
Monday, November 11
- Intense to torrential rain (more than 200 millimeters): Aurora, Isabela, Cagayan, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Apayao
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Abra, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan
Tuesday, November 12
- Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): La Union, Pangasinan
In addition, there is a moderate to high risk of storm surges in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, Isabela, Zambales, Aurora, Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes in the next 48 hours.
ALSO ON RAPPLER
The weather bureau also updated its outlook for sea conditions in the next 24 hours.
Up to very rough or high seas (travel is risky for all vessels)
- Seaboards of Isabela and northern Aurora – waves up to 8 meters high
- Remaining seaboard of Aurora; eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan – waves up to 5.5 meters high
- Seaboards of Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur – waves up to 5 meters high
- Northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands; seaboard of Camarines Norte; northern seaboards of Camarines Sur and Catanduanes – waves up to 4.5 meters high
Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)
- Seaboard of Babuyan Islands; northern seaboard of mainland Cagayan – waves up to 4 meters high
- Seaboard of Batanes; remaining seaboards of Ilocos Region – waves up to 3.5 meters high
- Eastern seaboards of mainland Quezon; remaining seaboard of Polillo Islands; eastern seaboard of Catanduanes – waves up to 3 meters high
Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)
- Seaboard of Zambales; eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon – waves up to 2.5 meters high
- Northern and eastern seaboards of Northern Samar; eastern seaboard of Eastern Samar; seaboard of Kalayaan Islands – waves up to 2 meters high
Nika is the Philippines’ 14th tropical cyclone for 2024, and the second for November, coming immediately after Typhoon Marce (Yinxing), which battered Northern Luzon. Marce has since weakened into a severe tropical storm outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
Nika may exit PAR by Tuesday morning or afternoon, November 12.
Meanwhile, the low pressure area that formed outside PAR last Friday, November 8, developed into a tropical depression early Monday.
The tropical depression was last spotted 1,685 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas at 3 am on Monday, moving west northwest at a relatively fast 35 km/h.
It has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.
PAGASA Weather Specialist Aldczar Aurelio said the tropical depression could enter PAR during the week. The next local tropical cyclone name is Ofel.
Aside from the tropical depression, another tropical cyclone outside PAR is also being monitored — a tropical storm with the international name Man-yi.
Tropical Storm Man-yi was located 3,555 kilometers east of Central Luzon at 3 am on Monday, slowly moving east or away from PAR.
It has maximum sustained winds of 85 km/h and gustiness of up to 105 km/h.
Aurelio said Man-yi appears unlikely to enter PAR, based on current data.
– Rappler.com
