“CHEDENG” intensified into a typhoon yesterday but is forecast to remain far from the landmass until its exit from the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Monday.
Chedeng, which was a tropical storm as of Wednesday afternoon, intensified into a severe tropical storm on Wednesday night.
Yesterday afternoon, it strengthened to a typhoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In a bulletin, PAGASA said Chedeng was some 935 km east of Central Luzon as of 4 p.m. yesterday. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph. It is moving northwestward at 15 kph.
PAGASA weather forecaster Rhea Torres said Chedeng is forecast to further intensify.
“It may reach the peak intensity of up to 150 kph (in maximum sustained winds) by Saturday but it will remain a typhoon category,” Torres said in a press briefing, adding Chedeng is expected to exit on Monday.
While Chedeng will remain far from the Philippine landmass, it will enhance the southwest monsoon which may bring rains in western sections of the country this weekend.
