The maximum sustained winds of Typhoon Nika (Toraji) reach 130 km/h early Monday morning, November 11 — possibly already its peak intensity
MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Nika (Toraji) further intensified as it approached the boundary of Isabela and Aurora early Monday morning, November 11, the weather bureau said.
Nika’s maximum sustained winds increased from 120 kilometers per hour to 130 km/h — possibly already its peak intensity. The typhoon’s gustiness is now up to 180 km/h from the previous 150 km/h.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 8 am bulletin on Monday that Nika was already over the coastal waters of Dilasag, Aurora, at 7 am.
The typhoon slowed down again, moving west northwest at 15 km/h from 20 km/h. But it remains on track 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.
While crossing mainland Luzon, Nika could weaken into a severe tropical storm, but it would still pose a threat.
More areas were placed under Signal No. 4 as of 8 am on Monday. Below is the full list of areas where tropical cyclone wind signals are in effect.
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)
- Kalinga
- Mountain Province
- northern part of Ifugao (Aguinaldo, Mayoyao, Alfonso Lista, Banaue, Hungduan, Hingyon, Lagawe)
- central and southern parts of Abra (Manabo, Pidigan, San Juan, Tayum, Langiden, Luba, Boliney, Sallapadan, Bucloc, Lagangilang, Tubo, Danglas, Villaviciosa, La Paz, Licuan-Baay, Pilar, Malibcong, Peñarrubia, San Isidro, Daguioman, San Quintin, Dolores, Lagayan, Bangued, Bucay, Lacub)
- northern and central parts 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, Vigan City, Caoayan, Santa, Bantay, Santo Domingo, Narvacan, Quirino, Cervantes, Sigay, Salcedo, Santa Lucia, Candon City, Galimuyod, Gregorio del Pilar, Santa Cruz)
Signal No. 3
Storm-force winds (89 to 117 km/h), moderate to significant threat to life and property
- central part of Aurora (Dinalungan)
- northern part of Quirino (Diffun, Cabarroguis, Aglipay, Saguday, Maddela)
- northeastern part of Nueva Vizcaya (Diadi, Bagabag, Quezon, Solano, Villaverde, Kasibu, Ambaguio, Bayombong)
- rest of Isabela
- southwestern part of Cagayan (Enrile, Solana, Tuao, Tuguegarao City, Rizal, Piat)
- southern part of Apayao (Conner, Kabugao)
- rest of Abra
- 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)
- rest of Ilocos Sur
Signal No. 2
Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property
- 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 Nueva Vizcaya
- rest of Quirino
- 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)
- central part of Aurora (Dipaculao, Maria Aurora, Baler)
- 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
- Babuyan Islands
- rest of mainland Cagayan
- rest of Pangasinan
- rest of Aurora
- 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, Pila)
- northern and eastern parts of Quezon (Infanta, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Mauban, Perez, Real, General Nakar, Calauag) including Polillo Islands
- northwestern part of Camarines Norte (Capalonga, Santa Elena, Vinzons, Labo, Paracale, San Vicente, Talisay, Daet, Jose Panganiban)
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 maintained its rainfall advisory for Monday, with Nika dumping moderate to torrential rain in 20 provinces in Luzon. The weather bureau updated its outlook for Tuesday, November 12, removing Pangasinan.
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
- Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ilocos Sur, La Union
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, and Camarines Sur within 48 hours.
For sea conditions in the next 24 hours, the weather bureau also maintained the following outlook:
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
ALSO ON RAPPLER
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. But also on Tuesday morning, the tropical cyclone that just formed outside PAR early Monday is already expected to enter.
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. Once inside PAR, it will be given the local name Ofel.
So, far the tropical depression has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and gustiness of up to 55 km/h. But it may intensify into a tropical storm outside PAR on Monday, then into a severe tropical storm inside PAR by early Wednesday, November 13. “The possibility of reaching typhoon category is not ruled out,” added the weather bureau.
The initial forecast track shows the potential Ofel might make landfall in Northern Luzon or Central Luzon on Thursday evening, November 14, or early Friday morning, November 15. But PAGASA said “the track may still shift within the limit of the forecast confidence cone.”
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.
PAGASA Weather Specialist Aldczar Aurelio said Man-yi appears unlikely to enter PAR, based on current data.
– Rappler.com
