Weather Update: TYPHOON SONGDA (CHEDENG) as of 25 May @ 6am

As of 6am today, CHEDENG continued to intensify (now becoming a Typhoon) and moved more to the west at 15 kph getting closer to the Visayas and Bicol Region. The center of Typhoon CHEDENG is about 435 km ESE of Sorsogon with wind gusts of up to 165 kph. CHEDENG is expected to intensify further moving WNW 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 2pm today – 25 May, it shall be 415 km East of Naga City/CWC or 310 km ESE of Virac, Catanduanes and 400 km East of Iriga City. Its wind gusts shall intensify to 200 kph. On 26 May at 2am, CHEDENG is forecast to be 300 km ENE of Naga City/CWC or 205 km NE of Virac, Catanduanes and 320 km ENE of Daet, Camarines Norte now with increased wind gusts of 230 kph.

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4-day TYPHOON CHEDENG(Songda) Storm Forecast

27 May(2am)
450 km NE of Naga City/CWC
225 km ENE of Divilacan, Isabela
405 km SE of Basco, Batanes
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall intensify to 260 kph.

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

On 29 May(2am)
950 km NE of Basco, Batanes (now outside the PAR)
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall decrease to 185 kph.

30 May(2am)
1,900 km NE of Basco, Batanes (now out of the PAR)
310 km SE of Kyoto, Japan
CHEDENG's wind gusts shall weaken more to 130 kph.

CHEDENG has now intensified into minimal TYPHOON Strength with projected wind gusts of up to 260 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 and into the Ryukus. Extra tropical transition is also expected afterwards.

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AREAS HAVING PUBLIC STORM SIGNAL WARNING

FORECAST ANALYSIS AND EFFECTS:
The system showed a more westerly track in the past hours. CHEDENG is now a few hundred kilometers 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 Isabela and Cagayan Province. A sharp turn to the north and a northeastern recurvature in the later part of the extended forecast period is expected approaching a hundred few kilometers to the east of Isabela (May 27) and Basco, Batanes sometime on 27 or 28 May. Expect bad weather in these areas beginning 27 May.

Forecast models still shows a NO LANDFALL Scenario for Typhoon SONGDA/CHEDENG. CHEDENG is also expected to accelerate later in the forecast between 26 to 29 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 Western Honshu, 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 @ 5am

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