Chedeng maintains strength, direction over Philippine Sea

Severe Tropical Storm Chedeng maintains its strength and direction while over the Philippine Sea, according to the Tropical Cyclone Bulletin PAGASA posted early Thursday morning.

The center of Severe Tropical Storm Chedeng was estimated at 1,090 kilometers east of Central Luzon packing maximum sustained winds of 95 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 115 km/h, and central pressure of 992 hPa.

Chedeng maintains moving in the west northwest direction at a speed of 10 km/h with strong to gale-force winds extend outwards up to 350 km from the center.

There are no Wind Signals hoisted at this time.

Hazards affecting land areas

Chedeng is unlikely to directly bring heavy rainfall over any portion of the country in the next 3 to 5 days, PAGASA said.

"Although the current forecast scenario for this tropical cyclone may result in the enhancement of the Southwest Monsoon, the timing and intensity of monsoon rains over the country (especially in the western portion) may still change due to the dependence of monsoon enhancement on the forecast movement and intensity," the weather bureau added.

Palawan will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorm due to the southwest monsoon. Flash floods or landslides may occur in the province due to moderate to at times heavy rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon and localized thunderstorms. PAGASA also warned that flash floods or landslides may occur during severe thunderstorms.

Severe Winds

The hoisting of Wind Signals in anticipation of tropical cyclone severe winds is unlikely at this time.

The wind speed forecast for northern and western sections of Luzon is light to moderate moving in the southwest to southeast direction while coastal waters will be slight to moderate.

The rest of Luzon will experience light to moderate wind speed moving in the northeast to northwest direction with slight to moderate coastal waters.

The wind speed forecast for the Visayas and Mindanao is light to moderate moving in the southwest to west direction while coastal waters will be slight to moderate.

Chedeng remains unlikely to cause rough sea condition over the coastal waters of the country in the next 24 hours.

Track and Intensity outlook

Chedeng will remain far from the Philippine landmass, said PAGASA, and is forecast to move generally west northwestward to northwestward today through Friday afternoon before turning northward.

"During this period, Chedeng may become slow-moving. On Saturday, this tropical cyclone will begin accelerating generally north northeastward or northeastward," said PAGASA.

"Owing to favorable environmental conditions, Chedeng is forecast to intensify in the next 2 to 3 days and may be upgraded into a typhoon by tonight or tomorrow. Peak intensity may be reached by Saturday," the agency added. -- BAP, GMA Integrated News