Expect severe flooding over parts of N. Luzon as storm Nika roars toward landmass. PAGASA photo

MANILA — State forecasters on Sunday warned of widespread flooding and landslides in urbanized, low-lying areas or regions near rivers in northern Luzon as Severe Tropical Storm Nika roared closer to the Philippine landmass.

Northern Luzon has been battered by successive storms in recent weeks, with Severe Tropical Storm Nika feared to bring more devastation to the area with its powerful winds and heavy rains.

Nika, Ofel, Pepito: 3 cyclones may slice through Philippines this week - PAGASA

Speaking in Cagayan on Sunday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reminded residents to evacuate their homes when local governments tell them to do so.

"The very good news that we have sa dumaan na Marce, wala tayong namatayan, wala po tayong casualties. Kaya po nangyari 'yan dahil mabilis, maaga ang pag-evacuate ng tao," he said at a distribution of relief supplies.

(The very good news we have from Typhoon Marce is we have no reported casualties, and that is because of an early and quick evacuation)

Cagayan, Isabela, Apayao, and Aurora could experience intense to torrential with up to 200 millimeters of rain from Monday until Tuesday, which could cause widespread extreme flooding and landslides, according to the state weather bureau PAGASA's advisory before noon.

Flooding events could affect Kalinga, Mountain Province, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, and Abra beginning Monday until Tuesday.

Kalinga, Apayao, Abra, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur may have to endure the same heavy to intense rains until Wednesday.

Localized flooding meanwhile could also hit Aurora, Quezon, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Northern Samar as early as Sunday until Monday.

By Monday until Tuesday, flooding could begin to strike Tarlac, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, and Ilocos Sur. 

By Tuesday to Wednesday, localized flooding may arrive in Pangasinan, La Union, Benguet, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Cagayan, Isabela, and Aurora.

PAGASA said forecast rainfall could be higher in mountainous and elevated areas and that impacts in some areas could be worsened by significant antecedent rainfall.

It advised the public and local officials to be prepared for potentially deadly flooding, landslides, and other hazards.