‘Nina’ moves northwest, still far from land

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Nina (Prapiroon) is maintaining its strength as it moves toward the northwest, state weather bureau PAGASA said Thursday, October 11.

Nina was last located 700 km east of Calayan Island (19.2ºN, 129.0ºE), carrying winds of 140 km/h near the center and gusts of up to 170 km/h.

It is still too far to directly affect any part of the country, the bureau said. No public storm warning signal has been raised yet.

The typhoon is moving west northwest at a speed of 7 km/h, and is not forecast to hit any part of the Philippines.

Heavy to intense rainfall (10-20 mm/h) is expected within the 700 km diameter of Nina, the bureau added.

Despite the typhoon’s distance, small seacraft are advised not to go out to sea in northern and eastern Luzon, as well as in eastern Visayas, due to waves that could be caused by the storm.

Nina is expected to be 640 km east of Basco, Batanes by Thursday evening, and 670 km northeast of Basco by Friday evening.

While Nina hovers east of Luzon, Bicol, Calabarzon, Visayas and Mindanao will experience occasional light to moderate rain or thunderstorms.

The rest of the Philippines will have partly cloudy skies with brief rain or thunderstorms.

Winds throughout the country will be moderate to strong, coming from the north to northwest over Luzon and coming from the southwest over the rest of the archipelago.

PAGASA 24-Hour Public Weather Forecast, 11 October 2012, 5am

– Rappler.com