Nika may reach peak intensity before landfall on Monday – Pagasa

Satellite image of Tropical Storm Nika captured on Saturday, 10:40 p.m. —Photo by Pagasa/Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Storm Nika (international name: Toraji) further intensified on Saturday night and may reach its peak intensity before making a landfall on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

Pagasa said in its 11 p.m. weather bulletin that Nika will continue to intensify and may make a landfall in Isabela or Aurora on Monday afternoon or evening. It is also forecast to develop into a severe tropical storm category by Sunday.

READ: Nika now a storm, Signal No. 1 up in Northern Luzon areas

“The possibility of rapid intensification is not ruled out while this weather disturbance is over the Philippine Sea east of Quezon,” the weather agency added.

Pagasa last located Nika some 625 kilometers (km) east of Virac, Catanduanes or 750 km east of Daet, Camarines Norte, moving westward at 20 kilometers per hour (km/h).

It was now packing a maximum wind speed of 75 km/h and gustiness of up to 90 km/h.

Further, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 was raised over the following areas in Luzon:

• Isabela
• Quirino
• Eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax del Norte, Diadi, Quezon)
• Aurora
• Eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Laur)
• Eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray)
• 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, General Nakar) including Polillo Islands
• Camarines Norte
• Camarines Sur
• Catanduanes
• Northeastern portion of Albay (Malinao, Tiwi, City of Tabaco, Bacacay, Malilipot, Rapu-Rapu)

Areas under this wind signal may experience minimal to minor impacts from strong winds.

Meanwhile, the following areas will experience strong gale-force gusts brought by northeasterly wind flow on Sunday:

• Batanes
• Northern Cagayan including Babuyan Islands