Weather Update: TYPHOON SONGDA (CHEDENG) as of 25 May @ 5pm

As of 5pm today, Typhoon CHEDENG rapidly intensified and continues to linger to the east of Luzon and Northern Visayas. Chedeng was quasi-stationary for several hours earlier today before resuming its NW movement at 11 kph closer to Eastern Luzon. The center of Typhoon CHEDENG is about 275 km ESE of Sorsogon with wind gusts of up to 240 kph. CHEDENG is expected to intensify further moving WNW to NW along the Philippine Sea. CHEDENG's spiraling rainbands continues to affect Samar, Leyte, Northern Mindanao, Central Visayas and Bicol.

At 2am tomorrow – 26 May, it shall be 265 km ENE of Virac, Catanduanes or 355 km ENE of Iriga City, Camarines Sur and 370 km East of Naga City/CWC. Its wind gusts shall intensify to 260 kph. On 26 May at 2pm, CHEDENG is forecast to be 255 km NE of Virac, Catanduanes or 330 km ENE of Naga City/CWC and 410 km ESE of Palanan, Isabela. Wind gusts shall intensify to 270 kph.

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4-day TYPHOON CHEDENG(Songda) Storm Forecast

27 May(2pm)
255 km ENE of Sta. Ana, Cagayan
305 km SE of Basco, Batanes
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall be at 270 kph.

28 May(2pm)
580 km ENE of Basco, Batanes
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall drop to 240 kph.

29 May(2pm)
1,480 km NE of Basco, Batanes (now outside the PAR)
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall drop to 185 kph.

30 May(2pm)
460 km ESE of Tokyo, Japan
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall drop to 120 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 to move 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 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 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 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!