MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila has been placed under Signal No. 1 as Severe Tropical Storm Nika neared typhoon category.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin on Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Signal No. 2 was up over the northern portion of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Maria Aurora and Baler), Isabela, Quirino, the southern portion of mainland Cagayan (Solana, Iguig, Peñablanca, Tuguegarao City, Enrile, Baggao, Alcala, Amulung, Santo Niño, Rizal, Piat, Tuao, Gattaran and Lasam), Nueva Vizcaya, the southern portion of Apayao (Kabugao, Conner, Flora and Pudtol), Abra, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Benguet, the northern portion of Nueva Ecija (Carranglan, Pantabangan, Lupao and San Jose City), the southern portion of Ilocos Sur (Narvacan, Nagbukel, Cervantes, Quirino, San Emilio, Santa Maria, Burgos, San Esteban, Santiago, Lidlidda, Banayoyo, City of Candon, Galimuyod, Salcedo, Gregorio del Pilar, Sigay, Santa Lucia, Santa Cruz, Suyo, Alilem, Tagudin and Sugpon), La Union, and the northeastern portion of Pangasinan (San Nicolas, Natividad, San Quintin, Sison, San Manuel, Umingan and Tayug).