Severe tropical storm Chedeng slightly intensified as it moves West northwestward over the Philippine Sea, according to the latest bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Thursday.
In its 11 AM bulletin, PAGASA said Chedeng was last seen 1,070 kilometers East of Central Luzon packing maximum sustained winds of 100 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gustiness of up to 125 km/h, and a central pressure of 985 hPa as it moves West-northwestward at the speed of 15 km/h.
"On the forecast track, CHEDENG will remain far from the Philippine landmass. It is forecast to move generally west-northwestward to northwestward today through tomorrow before turning more northward tomorrow evening," it said.
"From this point on, CHEDENG will be slow-moving until Saturday before accelerating on Sunday generally northnortheastward or northeastward. This tropical cyclone is expected to exit PAR by Monday morning," PAGASA added.
The state weather bureau reiterated that the STS may not directly bring heavy rainfall in the next coming days, and it may not cause rough sea conditions over the country's coastal waters.
According to PAGASA, the intensity of monsoon rains caused by Chedeng "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 also said that it may not raise Tropical Wind Signal (TWCS) at this time.
