Weather: ‘Mina’ weakens into tropical storm, moves away from PHL

After pounding Northern Luzon, tropical cyclone “Mina" (international name: Nanmadol) weakened into a tropical storm and continued moving away from the Philippines early on Monday. However, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said “Mina" is not expected to leave Philippine territory until early Tuesday. “Finally, unti-unti kumikilos palabas ng Pilipinas si ‘Mina’ (at papuntang) Southern Taiwan and Mainland China," PAGASA forecaster Elvie Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio. She slo said “Mina" is not expected to make a U-turn when it exits the Philippine area of responsibility on Tuesday morning. PAGASA’s 5:00 a.m. advisory on Monday indicated that “Mina" was 190 kilometers (km) north-northwest of Basco, Batanes as of 4:00 a.m. and had maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 140 kph. It was forecast to move northwest at 9 kph and is expected to be 400 km north-northwest of Basco, Batanes by Tuesday morning. - VVP, GMA News