Nika exits PAR, weakens; Ofel enters, forecasted to hit Cagayan or Isabela

Severe Tropical Storm Nika exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday afternoon as a tropical storm after making landfall in Dilasag, Aurora, and crossing through Northern Luzon.

Nika is now located 365 kilometers west of Calayan, Cagayan with maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gusts up to 105 kph, moving westward at 15 kph.

PAGASA warns that Nika will weaken further into a tropical depression on Thursday evening or Friday early morning and degenerate into a remnant low by Friday afternoon or evening due to an increasingly unfavorable environment. However, it could cause strong to gale-force gusts over Batanes and Babuyan Islands on Tuesday with rough seas expected in the western seaboard of Batanes and Babuyan Islands; and the seaboard of Ilocos Norte.

No additional tropical cyclone wind signals were raised over any areas, though Wind Signal No. 1 remains in effect for parts of Ilocos Norte, Apayao, Cagayan, and the Babuyan Islands.

PAGASA also stated that Nika no longer poses a threat of storm surge to coastal areas in the country.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Ofel (international name Usagi) has entered the PAR east of Eastern Visayas and slightly intensified as it moved northwestward over the Philippine Sea. It is forecasted to make landfall over the east coast of Cagayan or Isabela on Thursday with potential strong to gale-force gusts across Catanduanes and heavy rains over some parts of Northern Luzon.