Typhoon Nina weakens into tropical storm but may linger until Friday

Tropical cyclone Nina (Prapiroon) weakened into a tropical storm before noon Tuesday, but is still moving so slowly it may stay inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) until Friday, state weather forecasters said.

 

PAGASA forecaster Nikos Peñaranda said Tropical Storm Nina is moving northwest very slowly and may eventually head for Okinawa in Japan.

 

"Si Nina humina uli, isa na lang siyang tropical storm ... Inaasahan natin si Nina lalabas ng PAR Huwebes o Biyernes nang umaga. Matagal-tagal pa," Peñaranda said in an interview on dzBB radio. He added Tropical Storm Nina is still not likely to bring rain to the Philippines but may enhance winds and big waves in Northern Luzon.  

^{Satellite image of Typhoon (now Tropical Storm) Nina as of 8 a.m., Oct. 16}

 

PAGASA warned fishing boats and other small seacrafts not to venture out into the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon due to big waves generated by Tropical Storm Nina.

 

In its 11 a.m. advisory, PAGASA said Nina was estimated at 740 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes as of 10 a.m., with maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 140 kph.

 

It is forecast to move northwest slowly and is expected to be at 650 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes by Wednesday morning.

 

By Thursday morning, it is expected to be 670 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, and at 810 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes or 190 km southeast of Okinawa, Japan by Friday morning.

 

Nina may bring rainfall of 10 to 20 mm per hour (heavy to intense) within its 600-km diameter. — TJD, GMA News