Nika now a severe tropical storm; Signal No. 2 up over parts of Isabela, Aurora

Tropical cyclone Nika (international name: Toraji) has intensified into a severe tropical storm early Sunday, according to PAGASA. At 5 a.m.

, the weather bureau raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 over: TCWS No. 1 meanwhile is in effect in the following 17 Luzon areas: At 4 a.



m., the center of Nika was estimated to be located at 690 km east of Infanta, Quezon, packing maximum sustained winds of 100 km/h near the center with gustiness of up to 125 km/h and central pressure of 985 hPa. Nika is moving west northwestward at 30 km/h.

From its center, strong to storm-force winds are extending outwards up to 300 km from the center. —KG, GMA Integrated News.