“CHEDENG” has intensified into tropical storm from a tropical depression but is was not yet affecting any the country as of yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
PAGASA said Chedeng, which strengthened into a storm on Tuesday night, may further intensify into a severe tropical storm Wednesday night or Thursday, and into a typhoon late Thursday or on Friday.
“Rapid intensification is not ruled out. Peak intensity may be reached by Friday or Saturday,” PAGASA said.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Chedeng was some 1,150 km east of southeastern Luzon and was slowly moving, PAGASA said in bulletin issued at 5 p.m yesterday. Chedeng was packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 kph.
“Tropical storm Chedeng is unlikely to directly bring heavy rainfall over any portion of the country in the next three to five days,” PAGASA said.
It said Chedeng will move generally northwestward or west northwestward until Saturday morning before turning northward or north northeastward.
Chedeng, the country’s third tropical cyclone this year, was still not expected to make landfall in any part of the country.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said it has taken preparations and alerted provinces in the eastern part of the country to take precaution.
