Weather Update: TYPHOON SONGDA (CHEDENG) as of 26 May @ 11am

As of 11am this morning, Typhoon CHEDENG continued moving to the north (NNW) at 16 kph while maintaining strength. Satellite photos now reveal a 28 km symmetrical eye. Typhoon CHEDENG is about 230 km ENE of Virac, Catanduanes or 320 km ENE of Iriga City, Camarines Sur with wind gusts of up to 260 kph. CHEDENG is expected to intensify further while climbing NW along the Philippine Sea just NE of Catanduanes and ESE of Isabela/Cagayan. CHEDENG's rainbands continue to affect Samar, Leyte, Central Visayas, Bicol and Quezon Province.

At 8pm tonight – 26 May, it shall be 385 km ENE of Naga City/CWC and 335 km ESE of Palanan, Isabela. Its wind gusts shall intensify to 270 kph.

On 27 May at 8am, CHEDENG is forecast to be 380 km SE of Basco, Batanes. Wind gusts shall intensify further to 275 kph.

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4-Day TYPHOON CHEDENG(Songda) Forecast Positions

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AREAS HAVING PUBLIC STORM SIGNAL WARNING

STORM SIGNAL # 2: Catanduanes and Camarines Sur

STORM SIGNAL # 1: Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, Aurora,
Quezon Provinces including Polillo Is., Camarines Norte, Albay, Sorsogon,Marinduque, Burias and Ticao Is., Masbate, Biliran Is.
and Samar Provinces

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FORECAST ANALYSIS AND EFFECTS:
The system started to turn more to the north (poleward) over the past several hours decreasing its threat to the Bicol Region as the High Pressure Ridge extending in Japan weakens. CHEDENG shall continue to move NW to NNW along the Philippine Sea and intensify and shall accelerate beginning 27 May while lingering to the East of Cagayan and the Batanes Group of Islands.

Right now, CHEDENG is still a few hundred kilometers to the Northeast of Catanduanes. Deteriorating weather is being experienced in Samar, Leyte, Bicol including Northern Mindanao and becoming widespread in Central Visayas and Quezon Province as the Southwest Moonsoon shall begin to be enhanced by this typhoon. CHEDENG shall remain in the open waters of the Philippines throughout the forecast 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 and Batanes Group of Islands sometime on 27 May or early morning of 28 May.

Forecast models are still in good agreement with a NO LANDFALL Scenario for Typhoon SONGDA/CHEDENG. CHEDENG is also expected to accelerate later in the forecast between 27 to 31 May. Expect rains in LUZON and VISAYAS that could trigger flashfloods and winds sometime from 26 and 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.

Beginning 28 May, low ocean heat content shall weaken the system as it tracks out of the PAR. Extra tropical transition is also expected afterwards. CHEDENG shall be out of the country by 28 or early morning of 29 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 26 May @ 11am