PAGASA: TS Nina accelerates, finally exits PAR

After lingering near Northern Luzon for nearly two weeks, Tropical Storm Nina (Prapiroon) finally exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility Wednesday night, state weather forecasters said.

 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, in its final Nina advisory, said the tropical storm accelerated north-northeast and headed toward Japan.

 

As of 10 p.m., Tropical Storm Nina was estimated to be 800 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes. It packed maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 100 kph.

 

Tropical Storm Nina was moving north-northeast at 15 kph and is expected to be 940 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes or 240 km east of Okinawa, Japan Thursday morning.

 

While there were no storm warning signals raised, PAGASA said Nina would bring rainfall of 5 to 15 mm per hour (moderate to heavy) within its 600-km diameter.

 

During its stay inside the PAR, Nina did not directly affect the country, though it enhanced winds that created big waves in parts of Luzon. — DVM, GMA News