Typhoon Nika has intensified as it nears the coast of Aurora, bringing with it strong winds and a range of severe weather threats across Luzon.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that as of 4 a.m., the typhoon’s center was located approximately 100 kilometers east-southeast of Casiguran, Aurora, with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching up to 150 kilometers per hour. It is currently moving west-northwest at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour.
Due to its increasing intensity, PAGASA has issued various Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS) across Luzon. Areas under TCWS No. 4, including parts of Aurora and Isabela, are warned of typhoon-force winds expected within the next 12 hours. These winds, ranging from 118 to 184 kilometers per hour, pose a significant threat to life and property.
Meanwhile, TCWS No. 3 covers northern areas of Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, and Cagayan, along with the rest of Isabela. In these regions, storm-force winds between 89 and 117 kilometers per hour present moderate to significant risks to the community.
TCWS No. 2 affects central Aurora, parts of Nueva Vizcaya, and additional areas within Cagayan and Apayao, where gale-force winds pose minor to moderate hazards.
Broader regions, including the rest of Aurora, parts of Cagayan, Metro Manila, and several provinces in Central Luzon, fall under TCWS No. 1, with strong winds expected to cause minimal to minor impacts.
In addition to high winds, PAGASA has issued warnings about heavy rainfall, which may trigger landslides and flash floods, particularly in mountainous and coastal areas.
The agency also raised a Gale Warning over the eastern and northern seaboards of Luzon, cautioning against sea travel as waves may reach up to 8 meters in certain locations.
A storm surge warning is also in place for coastal zones in Ilocos, Cagayan, Aurora, and Quezon, where moderate to high risks are expected.
Residents in low-lying and flood-prone communities are advised to prepare for possible evacuations and to heed local government directives.
PAGASA forecasts that Nika may make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora later this morning. As it moves inland, the typhoon is expected to weaken to a severe tropical storm due to land interaction. By tomorrow, the system is likely to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) over the West Philippine Sea, continuing its path west-northwestward.
Communities in affected areas are strongly urged to secure their homes, prepare for possible evacuation, and stay informed through local authorities.
Sea travel is highly discouraged across the affected seaboards, and all mariners are advised to remain in port until conditions improve. For further updates and detailed weather advisories, the public is encouraged to monitor PAGASA’s official bulletins and online resources.
