Weather Update: TYPHOON SONGDA (CHEDENG) as of 25 May @ 11am

As of 11am today, Typhoon CHEDENG continued to intensify but slowed down now moving WNW at 9 kph turtle walking closer to the Visayas and Bicol Region. The center of Typhoon CHEDENG is about 440 km ESE of Sorsogon with wind gusts of up to 200 kph. CHEDENG is expected to intensify further moving WNW to NW closer to Eastern Luzon. CHEDENG's spiraling rainbands is now reaching Samar, Leyte, Northern Mindanao, Central Visayas and Bicol. Deteriorating weather condition shall begin today as the typhoon approaches.

At 8pm tonight – 25 May, it shall be 380 km East of Naga City/CWC or 275 km East of Virac, Catanduanes and 365 km ENE of Iriga City. Its wind gusts shall intensify to 230 kph. On 26 May at 8am, CHEDENG is forecast to be 225 km NNE of Virac, Catanduanes or 295 km ENE of Naga City/CWC and 310 km ENE of Daet, Camarines Norte. Wind gusts shall intensify to 250 kph.

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4-day TYPHOON CHEDENG(Songda) Storm Forecast

27 May(8am)
460 km NE of Daet, Camarines Norte
230 km ENE of Palanan, Isabela
355 km SE of Basco, Batanes
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall be at 250 kph.

28 May(8am)
370 km ENE of Basco, Batanes
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall drop to 240 kph.

29 May(8am)
1,220 km NE of Basco, Batanes (now outside the PAR)
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall drop to 185 kph.

30 May(8am)
270 km SE of Tokyo, Japan
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall drop to 130 kph.

CHEDENG has now intensified into minimal TYPHOON Strength with projected wind gusts of up to 250 km/hr. However, low ocean heat content in the later part of the forecast shall weaken the system as it tracks out of the PAR. Extra tropical transition is also expected afterwards.

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AREAS HAVING PUBLIC STORM SIGNAL WARNING

FORECAST ANALYSIS AND EFFECTS:
The system slowed down while on a westerly to slight WNW track in the past hours. CHEDENG is still a few hundred kilometers lingering to the East of Samar. Deteriorating weather shall be experienced in Samar, Leyte including and Northern Mindanao becoming widespread in Central Visayas as the Southwest Moonsoon shall begin to be enhanced by this typhoon. CHEDENG shall remain in the open waters of the Philippines and shall continue moving WNW towards the northern portion of the Philippine Sea. A sharp turn to the north and a northeastern recurvature in the later part of the extended forecast period is expected gliding hundreds of kilometers to the east of Isabela (26 or 27 May) and Batanes Group of Islands sometime on 27 or 28 May.

Majority of the forecast models still shows a NO LANDFALL Scenario for Typhoon SONGDA/CHEDENG. CHEDENG is also expected to accelerate later in the forecast between 27 to 30 May.

The system shall enhance the southwest moonsoon once it hovers to the NE of Visayas, the Bicol region and the rest of Eastern Luzon. The rainbands of CHEDENG continues to affect Northern Visayas, and Bicol. Expect rains in LUZON and VISAYAS that could trigger flashfloods and winds sometime from 25 to 27 May. Strong to gale force winds (55 kph or higher) are expected to affect the Eastern seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao becoming stronger in extreme Northern Luzon beginning 27 May.

Expect rough to very rough sea conditions along these areas. FISHING BOATS AND OTHER SMALL SEACRAFTS ARE ADVISED NOT TO VENTURE OUT INTO THE SEA WHILE LARGER SEA VESSELS ARE ALERTED AGAINST BIG WAVES.

CHEDENG shall be out of the country by 28 May. It is expected to recurve to the northeast missing Taiwan and shall head towards Okinawa and Southern Japan as an extra tropical storm system. Stay tuned for more updates.

P.S.
CHEDENG(Songda) is a strong and dangerous storm. If this hits land, it would be a deadly catastrophe. The public and the disaster coordinating councils concerned are advised to take appropriate actions and precautionary measures.

TRACKING MAP OF TYPHOON CHEDENG(Songda)

LATEST SATELLITE IMAGE as of 25 May @ 9am reveals CHEDENG's eye!