‘Nina’ weakens, still hovers over Batanes

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 11:32 a.m., 16 October 2012

MANILA, Philippines—The cyclone Nina has been downgraded from typhoon to tropical storm as it weakened before noon Tuesday, the state weather bureau said.

Nina, which remained to move slowly over the Philippine Sea, was last located 740 kilometers northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

It had maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 140 kph. It was moving northwest slowly.

By Thursday morning, Nina will be at 670 km northeast of Itbayat, Batanes and by Friday morning it will be 190 km southeast of Okinawa, Japan, Pagasa said.

Nina will continue to bring heavy to intense rains.

Fishing boats and other small seacraft were still advised not to venture out into the northern seaboard of Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Northern and Central Luzon.