Chedeng maintains strength, moves northwestward over Philippine Sea

Typhoon Chedeng maintains its strength while turning northwestward over the Philippine Sea, according to the Tropical Cyclone Bulletin posted by PAGASA early Friday morning.

As of 4 a.m., the center of the eye of Typhoon Chedeng was estimated at 875 kilometers east of Central Luzon or 910 km East of Northern Luzon packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour near the center, gustiness of up to 160 km/h, and central pressure of 975 hPa.

Chedeng is moving in the northwest direction at a speed of 10 km/h with strong to typhoon-force winds extend outwards up to 520 km from the center.

Hazards affecting land areas

Chedeng is unlikely to directly bring heavy rainfall over the country in the next 3 to 5 days.

"The Southwest Monsoon may be enhanced by Chedeng and bring occasional rains over some portions of southwestern Luzon in the next 3 days," PAGASA reported.

Palawan will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the southwest monsoon. Flash floods or landslides may occur 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 with the possibility of flash floods or landslides occurring during severe thunderstorms.

Severe Winds

The hoisting of Wind Signals in anticipation of tropical cyclone severe winds is unlikely at this time as the enhancement of the Southwest Monsoon over the next 3 days may bring gusty conditions over the following areas on Friday: Visayas, Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, the northern portion of Palawan including Kalayaan, Calamian, and Cuyo Islands, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, and Camiguin.

Hazards affecting coastal waters

There may be moderate to rough seas in the next 24 hours over the seaboards of extreme Northern Luzon and the eastern seaboard of mainland Northern Luzon.

The weather bureau warns mariners of small seacrafts to take precautionary measures and for the inexperienced or operating ill-equipped vessels, avoid navigating.

Track and Intensity outlook

Chedeng will remain far from the Philippine landmass and likely approaching the period that it is closest to the country.

The typhoon is forecast to begin its recurve by slowing down and turning towards the north today, then gradually accelerate north northeastward on Saturday and may exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday morning. -- BAP, GMA Integrated News