‘Nona’ downgraded to severe tropical storm

MANILA, Philippines – From a typhoon category, “Nona” further weakened and is now downgraded to a severe tropical storm, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The weather bureau said Nona was lowered to a tropical storm category at 2 p.m. just minutes upon Tropical Depression Onyok’s entry in the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Nona continues its slow movement over the West Philippine Sea with maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometer per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 130 kilometer per hour.

At 4 p.m.,  Nona’s eye was traced 70 kilometers southwest of Subic, Olongapo City, Zambales while Onyok was located east of Mindanao.

Nona is forecasted to move northwest at 7 kph and expected to head toward west of Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on Thursday afternoon.

Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) No. 2 remain in Bataan, Southern Zambales, Cavite, Batangas and Lubang Island while PSWS No.  1 is still raised within Metro Manila, rest of Zambales, Pampanga, Bulacan, Tarlac, Rizal, Laguna, Northern Occidental Mindoro, and Northern Oriental Mindoro.

Elsewhere, public storm warning signals are lifted.

PAGASA said there will be moderate to occasionally heavy rains over Sta. Ana Cagayan and Flora and Cabugao, Apayao while there will be light to moderate rains over the rest of Cagayan and the rest of Apayao, Kalinga, Isabela, Iloccos Sur, Mountain Province, Abra and Ifugao. Ilocos Norte will experience light rains for the next two hours.

Meanwhile, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Bulacan is placed under orange rainfall advisory or intense rainfall where flood is threatening.

“All are advised to take precautionary measure against heavy rains, strong winds, lightning and possible flashfloods,” the advisory added.