Weather Update: TYPHOON SONGDA (CHEDENG) as of 26 May @ 12mn

As of 12mn, Typhoon CHEDENG slowed down once again along the east of the Bicol Region moving NW at 9 kph. The center of Typhoon CHEDENG is about 350 km East of Sorsogon with wind gusts of up to 240 kph. CHEDENG is expected to intensify further while crawling NW along the Philippine Sea. CHEDENG's spiraling rainbands continues to affect Samar, Leyte, Northern Mindanao, Central Visayas and Bicol.

At 8am tomorrow – 26 May, it shall be 250 km ENE of Virac, Catanduanes or 340 km ENE of Iriga City, Camarines Sur and 350 km East of Naga City/CWC. Its wind gusts shall intensify to 250 kph. On 26 May at 8pm, CHEDENG is forecast to be 360 km NE of Naga City/CWC and 345 km ESE of Palanan, Isabela. Wind gusts shall intensify to 260 kph.

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4-day TYPHOON CHEDENG(Songda) Storm Forecast

27 May(8pm)
245 km ESE of Basco, Batanes
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall be at 270 kph.

28 May(8pm)
750 km NE of Basco, Batanes (now outside the PAR)
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall drop to 210 kph.

29 May(8pm)
645 km SW of Tokyo, Japan
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall drop to 130 kph.

30 May(8pm)
545 km ESE of Tokyo, Japan
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall drop to 100 kph.

CHEDENG has now intensified into minimal TYPHOON Strength with projected wind gusts of up to 270 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 is still slow moving and was even stationary for several hours today before resuming on a NW track. CHEDENG is still a few hundred kilometers to the East of Samar. Its eye is now visible on several satellite images. Deteriorating weather is now being experienced in Samar, Leyte, Bicol including Northern Mindanao and 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 NW 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 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 is now enhancing the southwest moonsoon while lingering to the NE of Visayas and the Bicol region. 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 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)

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