Rain still possible even as Severe Tropical Storm Nika moves away from land

There are also areas remaining under Signal Nos. 1 and 2 as of 11 pm on Monday, November 11, due to Severe Tropical Storm Nika (Toraji)

MANILA, Philippines – Severe Tropical Storm Nika (Toraji) may still cause rain in a dozen provinces in Northern Luzon even as it continues to move away from landmass.

Nika was located 80 kilometers west of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, as of 10 pm on Monday, November 11. It accelerated, moving northwest over the West Philippine Sea at 30 kilometers per hour from 20 km/h.

So far, the severe tropical storm still has maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h, while its gustiness eased to 150 km/h from 185 km/h.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a briefing past 11 pm that Ilocos Norte and Cagayan could still have heavy to intense rain in the coming hours.

Meanwhile, Apayao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Abra, Benguet, Ifugao, Isabela, Ilocos Sur, La Union, and Batanes might see moderate to heavy rain.

Weather will gradually improve after Nika’s exit from the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), which is expected on Tuesday morning, November 12.

For winds, PAGASA already lifted Signal No. 3 as of 11 pm on Monday. Only these areas remain under tropical cyclone wind signals:

Signal No. 2

Gale-force winds (62 to 88 km/h), minor to moderate threat to life and property

• Ilocos Norte
• Ilocos Sur
• Abra

Signal No. 1

Strong winds (39 to 61 km/h), minimal to minor threat to life and property

• La Union
• northwestern part of Pangasinan (Bolinao, Bani, Alaminos City, Agno, Sual, Anda)
• Apayao
• Kalinga
• Mountain Province
• Ifugao
• Benguet
• Cagayan including Babuyan Islands
• northwestern part of Isabela (San Pablo, Santa Maria, Cabagan, Santo Tomas, Quezon, Delfin Albano, Mallig, Roxas, San Manuel, Aurora, Quirino, Burgos, Tumauini, Gamu, San Mateo, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Cabatuan, Ilagan City)

The highest tropical cyclone wind signal raised due to Nika was Signal No. 4.

On Tuesday, the northeasterly windflow will also continue to bring strong to gale-force gusts to Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Batanes, Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, and Isabela.

In addition, there is still a minimal to moderate risk of storm surges in Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, and Zambales within 48 hours.

ALSO ON RAPPLER

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In the next 24 hours, certain seaboards will remain dangerous for travelers as well.

Up to very rough or high seas (travel is risky for all vessels)

• Western seaboard of Ilocos Norte; seaboard of Ilocos Sur – waves up to 5.5 meters high
• Eastern seaboard of mainland Cagayan – waves up to 5 meters high
• Remaining seaboards of mainland Cagayan and Ilocos Norte; seaboards of Batanes and Babuyan Islands – waves up to 4.5 meters high

Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea)

• Seaboards of La Union and Pangasinan – waves up to 4 meters high
• Seaboards of Isabela, northern Aurora, and Zambales – waves up to 3 meters high

Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible)

• Remaining seaboard of Aurora; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands – waves up to 2.5 meters high
• Remaining seaboard of Quezon; western seaboards of Bataan, Lubang Islands, Occidental Mindoro, and Calamian Islands; seaboards of Camarines Norte and Catanduanes; northern seaboard of Camarines Sur; eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon; northern and eastern seaboards of Northern 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 tropical storm outside PAR.

At its peak, Nika was a typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h. It was earlier downgraded to a severe tropical storm after crossing Aurora, Isabela, Ifugao, Mountain Province, and Ilocos Sur. Its landfall was in Dilasag, Aurora, at 8:10 am on Monday.

While Nika may exit PAR by Tuesday morning, a new tropical cyclone is expected to enter PAR at around the same time — the potential Ofel. – Rappler.com