RAIN SHOWERS. Motorcycle riders wait for the rain to stop as they park by the roadside in Quezon City on Tuesday (June 6, 2023). Tropical Storm Chedeng will enhance the southwest monsoon (habagat) but is unlikely to bring heavy rains in the next three to five days as it is forecast to remain far from land mass, the weather bureau said. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
MANILA – Tropical Storm Chedeng will enhance the southwest monsoon (habagat) but is unlikely to bring heavy rains in the next three to five days as it is forecast to remain far from land mass, the weather bureau said Wednesday.
In its 5 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said while Chedeng has intensified, now packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph, the hoisting of a tropical cyclone wind signal is unlikely.
Chedeng is forecast to further intensify and reach the severe tropical storm category by Wednesday night, and the typhoon category by Thursday.
PAGASA, however, noted that it could enhance the southwest monsoon but said the likelihood of intermittent wind gusts resulting from the monsoon winds might still change.
The monsoon enhancement would depend on the movement and intensity of Chedeng and its interaction with other weather systems around it, the weather bureau said.
Chedeng was last tracked 1,060 km. east of southeastern Luzon and is forecast to move northwest or west-northwest until Friday.
It remains unlikely to cause rough sea conditions over the coastal waters of the country in the next 24 hours.
The habagat will continue to cause rain showers and thunderstorms over Palawan on Wednesday.
The rest of the country will continue to experience isolated rain showers due to localized thunderstorms.
Light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas still prevail across the country, PAGASA said. (PNA)
