MANILA, Philippines — The center of Typhoon Nika (international name: Toraji) was located in the vicinity of Lagawe town in Ifugao province on Monday afternoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
Based on the 2 p.m. typhoon bulletin of the state weather agency, Nika was moving northwestward at 25 kilometers per hour (kph) and packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kph with gustiness of 215 kph.
Pagasa said Nika will gradually cross the Luzon region, and weaken as it emerges over the sea west of Ilocos Sur by Monday late afternoon or evening.
READ: LIVE UPDATES: Typhoon Nika
“This tropical cyclone may weaken into a severe tropical storm while traversing mainland Luzon due to land interaction,” state meteorologists explained.
Nevertheless, Pagasa noted that “regardless of the position of the center in the next several hours, it must be emphasized that hazards on land and coastal waters may still be experienced in areas outside the forecast confidence cone.”
READ: After Nika, another typhoon may enter PAR and make landfall over Luzon
Nika will move west-northwestward over the West Philippine Sea and leave the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Tuesday morning, November 12.
While that occurs, another tropical depression is forecast to eventually enter the PAR within the week and develop into a typhoon before hitting land in the Luzon region.