June 8 ----- Cyclone Chedeng (international name: Guchol) has intensified into a severe tropical storm but is still not expected to have a direct impact on the country in the coming days, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday night, June 7.
According to the PAGASA’s 11 p.m. bulletin, Chedeng has intensified into a severe tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts as high as 115 kph. It was moving west-northwestward at 10 kph. “On the forecast track, Chedeng will remain far from the Philippine landmass,” PAGASA said.
Even though its rainbands may not directly affect the country, PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said Chedeng may strengthen the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” which could bring rains over the western parts of Luzon as early as this weekend. Estareja said “light to moderate with at times heavy rains” may prevail over western Luzon, especially Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa “from this weekend until mid-June.” However, PAGASA pointed out that 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 of Chedeng, as well as its interaction with the other weather systems surrounding it.”
It noted that the enhancement of the southwest monsoon over the next three days may also bring gusty conditions in several areas. “By Friday, frequent gusts [may prevail] over Kalayaan Islands [and] intermittent to occasional wind gusts over Visayas, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian and Cuyo Islands, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Camiguin,” PAGASA said. “By Saturday, frequent gusts [may prevail] over Romblon and Kalayaan Islands [and] intermittent to occasional gusts over the Visayas, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, the rest of Mimaropa, Camiguin, and Dinagat Islands,” it added.
Chedeng was last spotted 1,220 kilometers east of Central Luzon. “It is forecast to move generally west-northwestward or northwestward tonight through mid-Friday (June 9) before beginning to slow down while turning northward. On Sunday (June 11), Chedeng will begin to accelerate north-northeastward or northeastward. On the track forecast, this tropical cyclone will leave the Philippine area of responsibility between late Sunday and early Monday (June 12),” PAGASA said.
Source: mb.com.ph
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