Initially, convection waxed and waned, but on November 17, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) started tracking the system.

The JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) at 0100 UTC on November 19 due to a significant increase in organization.

[2][nb 1] Continuing to rapidly become better organized while moving west-northwest, the cyclone was classified as a tropical depression by the JTWC at midday.

At 1600 UTC on November 20, Tropical Storm Nina passed 75 km (45 mi; 40 nmi) south of Weno Island in the Chuuk Lagoon.

[2] Shortly thereafter, Nina made its closest approach to Ulithi, passing 110 km (70 mi; 60 nmi) to the north.

[6] However, midday on November 24, Nina entered a phase of explosive intensification, at a rate of 1.33 mbar (0.039 inHg) an hour.

[2] After developing a well-defined eye, the JTWC reported that Nina attained its peak intensity of 270 km/h (170 mph; 145 kn), making it a low-end Category 5 system on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

At 1500 UTC on November 25, Nina moved ashore as it made landfall along the southern tip of Luzon at its peak intensity.

[1] Despite land interaction, little change in strength occurred until 0000 UTC on November 26, at that time, the system began to weaken.

[2] By 0000 UTC on November 27, the low and mid level circulations began to decouple, deeply thwarting many JTWC forecasters.

There, only minor damage and power outages were reported,[18] though 800 were evacuated to shelters due to flooding and the city's airport closed.

[22] Elsewhere, seven casualties occurred in the Laguna province, while one person perished each in San Pablo, Batangas, Marinduque and Mindoro Oriental.

[28] In Boac, the capital of Marinduque, 80% of all dwellings lost their roofs and damage was severe to churches, schools and city buildings.

[30] Offshore, five fisherman perished and a tugboat and cargo ship were rendered missing due to rough seas.

[17] Nina also brought widespread power outages to most of Luzon;[31] consequently, trading on the nation's two biggest stock exchange was suspended for November 26.

[33] Although Nina was rapidly weakening over the South China Sea, the storm brought 4.7 mm (0.19 in) of rain to Hong Kong,[37] prompting a tropical cyclone signal for nearby Macau.

[38] Temperatures at the Hong Kong Observatory fell to 9.9 °C, and wind speed was recorded at 53 mph (85 km/h) at Waglan Island.

[41] Due to the damage wrought by Nina, President Corazon Aquino declared four Luzon provinces a disaster area.

[43] United States Ambassador Nicholas Platt released $25,000 in emergency aid and sent officials to help with relief efforts.

[44] Additionally, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Mita Pardo de Tavera donated $50,000 for emergency disaster relief,[42] though many locals complained that this aid was too little and too late.

[25] In all, nine countries and several foreign Red Cross organizations responded by providing aid, totaling roughly $700,000 worth of value, mostly from Japan.