RAMMB/Himawari-9 satellite imagery

(UPDATED) Tropical cyclone Nika has continued to intensify and may turn into a severe tropical storm on Sunday, the state weather bureau said Saturday.

The tropical storm was last sighted 625 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes at 10 p.m.

It carries maximum sustained winds of 75 kilomters per hour near the center, gusts of up to 90 kph, and is moving westward at 20 kph.

Tropical Cyclone Signal Warning No. 1 is now up in a large portion of Luzon, including:

• • Isabela
• •Quirino
• •The eastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Alfonso Castaneda, Dupax del Norte, Diadi, Quezon)
• •Aurora
• •The eastern portion of Nueva Ecija (Bongabon, Gabaldon, General Tinio, Laur)
• •The eastern portion of Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray)
• •The eastern portion of Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Pitogo, San Andres, Buenavista, San Francisco, Pagbilao, Infanta, Lopez, Catanauan, 
• •Mulanay, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, Macalelon, Mauban, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, San 
• •Narciso, General Nakar) including Polillo Islands,
• •Camarines Norte
• •Camarines Sur
• •Catanduanes, and the northeastern portion of Albay (Malinao, Tiwi, Bacacay, City of Tabaco, Malilipot, Rapu-Rapu)

PAGASA forecast track of tropical cyclone Nika 

The storm will bring up to heavy rains over eastern Luzon beginning Sunday.

It will intensify further into a severe tropical storm before making landfall over Aurora or Isabela on Monday afternoon or evening. The possibility of rapid intensification into a typhoon is not ruled out.

Heavy to intense rains and strong winds will batter Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Ilocos Region and parts of Central Luzon as the storm crosses Northern Luzon through early Tuesday.

Serious and widespread flooding and landslides are expected. 

Nika may exit the Philippine area of responsibility Tuesday evening, according to PAGASA. - with reports from Ariel Rojas, ABS-CBN News