2 weeks Ago By Acor Arceo
MANILA, Philippines – Still reeling from Typhoon Marce (Yinxing) , Luzon is set to be hit by yet another tropical cyclone: Tropical Depression Nika. Nika was located 1,145 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon as of 10 am on Saturday, November 9, still far from land and not yet affecting any part of the country. The tropical depression is moving west at a relatively fast 30 kilometers per hour (km/h).
It has maximum sustained winds of 55 km/h and gustiness of up to 70 km/h. In a noontime briefing on Saturday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said moderate to heavy rain due to Nika will affect parts of Luzon starting Sunday, November 10. Here is PAGASA’s initial rainfall advisory for the tropical depression: Sunday noon, November 10, to Monday noon, November 11 Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 millimeters): Cagayan, Isabela, Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes Monday noon, November 11, to Tuesday noon, November 12 Intense to torrential rain (more than 200 mm): Cagayan, Apayao, Isabela Heavy to intense rain (100-200 mm): Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Aurora Moderate to heavy rain (50-100 mm): Ifugao, Quirino Floods and landslides are likely.
Meanwhile, in anticipation of strong winds from Nika, the weather bureau placed Catanduanes under Signal No. 1 at 11 am on Saturday. This means the province has lead time of 36 hours to prepare for strong winds.
The highest possible tropical cyclone wind signal due to Nika is Signal No. 3. PAGASA added that the northeasterly windflow will bring strong to gale-force gusts to Batanes, northern Cagayan including Babuyan Islands, and Ilocos Norte on Sunday.
Sea conditions will also be moderate to rough in the next 24 hours. Up to rough seas (small vessels should not venture out to sea) Northern and eastern seaboards of Catanduanes; seaboard of Kalayaan Islands – waves up to 3 meters high Up to moderate seas (small vessels should take precautionary measures or avoid sailing, if possible) Seaboards of Isabela, northern Aurora, and Camarines Norte; northern and eastern seaboards of Polillo Islands and Northern Samar; northern seaboard of Camarines Sur; eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon – waves up to 2.5 meters high Remaining seaboards of Cagayan Valley; seaboard of Ilocos Region; western seaboards of Zambales, Bataan, Lubang Islands, Occidental Mindoro, Calamian Islands, and mainland Palawan; eastern seaboards of Camarines Sur, Eastern Samar, and Dinagat Islands – waves up to 2 meters high ALSO ON RAPPLER Negros Island’s Kanlaon Volcano emitting more ash What are the PH Maritime Zones Act, Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act all about? Jayson Castro hailed Finals MVP as TNT captures 10th PBA title Rondae Hollis-Jefferson donates Best Import purse to charity PAGASA expects Nika to make landfall in Isabela or Aurora on Monday, November 11.
But the weather bureau emphasized that “hazards may still be experienced in areas outside the landfall point or forecast confidence cone,” so Luzon in general must prepare for the tropical cyclone. Nika is also projected to gradually intensify, and may strengthen into a tropical storm by Sunday morning and into a severe tropical storm by Monday morning before hitting land. Nika may weaken once it hits the terrain of mainland Luzon, but PAGASA said it is likely to remain a severe tropical storm by that time.
Nika is the Philippines’ 14th tropical cyclone for 2024, and the second for November. Aside from Nika, PAGASA continues to monitor a low pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). The LPA was located 2,700 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao at 10 am on Saturday.
It currently has a medium chance of developing into a tropical depression within 24 hours. – Rappler.com.
