Formerly Bagyong Chedeng, now a Low Pressure Area, is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility today before dissipating.

From an almost supertyphoon intensity, Chedeng weakened as it moved closer to the archipelago due to cold air intrusion and strong vertical wind shear, both factors hindering the retention of the cyclone’s strength.

Added to this is land interaction. When Chedeng’s center hit Dinapigue, Isabela, 8 in the morning of April 5, it gradually became a LPA.

Now estimated at 215 kms. northwest of Laoag, Ilocos Norte, the LPA will bring cloudy skies and rains over the regions of Cordillera, Ilocos and Cagayan Valley. Metro Manila, and the remaining parts of the country, on the other hand will experience a fair weathered Monday, apart from isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, a new tropical cyclone is spotted outside the PAR. A tropical storm category, this cyclone has an international name of Haishen. PAGASA estimates the cyclone at 2,560 kms. east of Mindanao.

Weather forecaster Glaiza Escullar says this cyclone is too far to affect the country and is actually expected to weaken in the following hours. Therefore, Pinoys do not have to worry about Haishen entering our area of responsibility in the following days.

By: Jesy Basco

Tropical Storm Chedeng has weakened into a low pressure area (LPA). The state weather bureau PAGASA has issued its final severe weather bulletin at 5 pm today, stating the LPA was located 60 kilometers southeast of Laoag City or in the vicinity of Kabugao, Apayao. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong, the said weather disturbance is forecast to exit the landmass of Ilocos Norte tomorrow early morning and exit PAR by Tuesday. The LPA has a slim chance to intensify into tropical cyclone, Quitlong added.

All Public Storm Warning Signals are now lifted.

Due to its extended cloud bonds, light to moderate rains are expected in the Northern and Central Luzon including Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos.

Small sea vessels are still alerted against moderate to rough seas over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, including the coastal areas of Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will experience generally good weather aside from partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.

Another tropical cyclone

Another tropical cyclone is being monitored by PAGASA. Located at 2,700 kilometers east of Mindanao, tropical depression “Haishen” (international name) has a maximum sustained winds of 55 kph.
Quitlong said, TD “Haishen” is forecast to dissipate within 24 to 48 hours and brings no threat to any part of the country.

UPDATED AS OF 8:56AM (PST) — Originally 10 kph shy of being a Super Typhoon by PAGASA standards, Chedeng further weakened to tropical depression category this morning.

From the original 215 kph wind strength, it now packs only 55 kph near the center, allowing PAGASA to lower Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS) except in the provinces of Isabela, Aurora, Quirino and Polillo Island, which are still under PSWS #1 today. These areas will have occasional rains with gusty winds within at least 36 hours.

Aside from being downgraded into a tropical depression, Chedeng also remained stationary. In fact, PAGASA states it is expected to remain almost stationary in the next 6 hours.

State Meteorologist Samuel Duran says as of 8 o’clock this morning, Chedeng has already made landfall in the vicinity of Dinapigue, Isable. With unfavorable conditions, now including land interaction, Chedeng has a high chance of weakening into a Low Pressure Area instead of hitting the land.

The constant factors of its continued weakening and becoming almost stationary include two High Pressure Areas north and west of the country, as well as a strong vertical wind shear. These made the cyclone unable to retain and gain moisture to sustain its strength and continue its projected track.

With this, the threat of storm surge is removed. However, gale warning is up over the northern seaboards of Luzon. and the eastern seaboards of Northern and Southern Luzon as Chedeng will still generate rough to very rough sea conditions. Fisherfolk, especially in small seacraft, are then advised not to venture out due to risky sea travel especially.

EASTER SUNDAY WEATHER

Today, areas under PSWS #1 will experience occasional rains and gusty winds due to Chedeng. The Bicol Region and Samar provinces can expect a rainy Sunday as Metro Manila and the remaining parts of the country may experience a fair weather condition.

Everyone is advised to bring umbrellas for sun protection and possible thunderstorms later in the day. Also, continue monitoring weather updates thru Panahon TV social media accounts.

Typhoon “Chedeng” maintained its strength with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 160 kilometers per hour. At 8:00AM today, it was located at 500 km East Southeast of Casiguran, Aurora or at 265 km Northeast of Virac Radar, Bato, Catanduanes.

Moving west northwest at 19 kilometers per hour, Chedeng is expected to make landfall over the coast of Aurora-Isabela area tomorrow morning. It will then exit the landmass through Ilocos Sur by Sunday evening and will exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Monday morning.

Public storm warning signal number 2 is up over Catanduanes where winds of up to 61-100 kilometers per hour in at least 24 hours. Meanwhile, Signal number 1 includes Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon including Polillo Ilsand, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Apayao, Cagayan, Benguet, Kalinga, Aurora, Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Isabela and Mountain province. These areas will experience winds of up to 30-60 kilometers per hour in at least 36 hours.

Potential impacts of the winds:

PSWS #2

Moderate damage to agriculture
Rice and corn adversely affected
Few large trees uprooted
Large number of nipa and cogon houses partially or totally unroofed
Some old galvanized iron roofing may roll off.
Travel by all types of sea vessels and aircrafts is risky.

PSWS #1

Twigs and branches of trees may be broken .
Some banana trees may tilt or land flat on the ground.
Rice in flowering stage may suffer significant damage.
Some nipa and cogon houses may be partially unroofed.
Sea travel of small seacraft and fishing boats is risky.

PSWS serve as warnings and should not be taken as an indication of the present situation. Because preparedness is the key to any disaster, PAGASA provides these storm warning signals ahead of time.

Holy Week Weather: Black Saturday

According to PAGASA, stormy weather is expected over the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and the provinces of Aurora, Quezon and Catanduanes. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

Fishing boats and other small sea craft are prohibited from sailing as gale warning is still up over the northern seaboard of Luzon and the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region and Visayas. These areas will experience wind force of 52 to 63 kilometers per hour and wave height ranging from 3.4 to 4.5 meters.

Meanwhile, another tropical cylone is now being monitored outside the PAR. However, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran said it is at approximately 2, 000 kilometers east of our boundary and is still too far to affect the country. As of now, our weather men are focusing on Chedeng as it moves closer to landmass but once the tropical depression outside the PAR shows development, PAGASA will also provide updates.

Despite the cyclone’s weakening, PAGASA reminds the public to brace itself for the possible effects of Typhoon Chedeng this weekend.

At 4 PM today, the eye of the typhoon was estimated at 845 kms. east-southeast of Casiguran, Aurora. Packing winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph, Chedeng maintains its typhoon category. However, PAGASA claims it has a higher chance of further weakening as it moves closer to the archipelago. State Meteorologist Aldczar Aurelio says there is a possibility that Chedeng may be downgraded to tropical storm category before hitting the landmass.

One such factor of the typhoon’s weakening is the strong vertical wind shear or the wind strength along the cyclone. Aurelio likened it to a humming top or ‘trumpo’ where winds differ in the bottom and top areas of the cyclone. Chedeng may also weaken due to land interaction, especially in mountainous areas that may help break the cyclone’s wind formation.

In the latest run of the various weather forecasting models of the weather bureau, here’s what we can expect:

April 5 – Sunday
Morning: Chedeng to make landfall over the Aurora-Isabela area.
Evening: Chedeng to leave the landmass via Ilocos Sur.

April 6 – Monday
Morning: Chedeng to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

Based on PAGASA’s latest weather bulletin, Public Storm Warning Signal number 1 is raised over Isabela, Aurora, Quezon including Polillo Island, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

These areas may still be experiencing good weather conditions now, but the effects of Chedeng may be felt in at least 36 hours, or in a day and a half.

PAGASA also mentions the possibility of hoisting the same warning signal over Cagayan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and the Cordillera Administrative Region in the next 12 hours as Chedeng moves closer to Eastern Luzon.

In a press briefing held in PAGASA this afternoon, Aurelio explains that although the country is experiencing good weather today, rains with occasional gusty winds can be expected by late Saturday, escalating to stormy weather, particularly over the Central-Northern Luzon area come Sunday.

In the Greater Metro Manila Area, there is a poor chance of having a storm warning signal raised. However, expect occasional rains and gusty winds as Chedeng crosses the land. The remaining parts of the country, on the other hand, can expect warm and humid weather, Aurelio added.

As Chedeng threatens the country, officials remind the residents living in areas under signal #1 to be prepared against possible flash floods and landslides. Storm surges of up to 2 metes are also possible over the eastern coast of Aurora, Quezon and Isabela. Even fisherfolk over the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region and Visayas are advised against sea travel due to the rough to very rough sea conditions generated by Chedeng.

Currently, Typhoon Chedeng (Maysak) is located 1019 East of Sorsogon City or 980 kilometers east southeast of Virac, Catanduanes moving west northwest at 19 kph. Chedeng has slightly weakened, its 500-kilometer radius packing maximum sustained winds of 175 kph near the center and gustiness up to 210 kph. According to PAGASA, the typhoon will still weaken as it approaches the eastern seaboard of Luzon.

In the press conference held at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Operations Center in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, PAGASA announced that Public Storm Warning Signal number 1 will be hoisted this afternoon over Bicol and Northern Samar provinces, which will prohibit sea travel in said areas. Meanwhile, rough to very rough sea conditions will be experienced this weekend over the eastern seaboards of Luzon and Visayas.

Chedeng is forecast to make landfall in the eastern coast of either of the following: Aurora, Quezon or Isabela by late Saturday to early Sunday, bringing moderate to heavy rains. Storm surges that are three meters high may occur over the eastern seas of Samar, Bicol and the Aurora-Quezon area. Meanwhile, NDRRMC appeals to tourists and travelers to refrain from surfing in Baler due to the threat of unusual sea waves beginning tomorrow.

Lenten Weather
Rains with gusty winds will be experienced in Eastern Luzon starting tomorrow, while Central and Western Luzon will have a warm and humid condition with isolated rain showers tomorrow until Friday.

Over the weekend, Bicol and Central-Northern Luzon will experience rains and gusty winds or stormy weather. Meanwhile, Greater Metro Manila Area will also be subjected to rains and gusty winds. The rest of the country will have warm and humid conditions.

Chedeng is expected to further weaken as it traverses the mountain ranges in Sierra Madre, and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Monday.

Zero Casualty Goal
Local governments are all set and prepared for the grand entrance of Typhoon Chedeng. In fact, 300,790 family food packs and standby funds amounting to P19,722,674 were transferred to Regions I, II, III, IVA & B, V, VIII, NCR and CAR.

Meanwhile, the national government is also busy with preparation. Quick Response Teams and the Bureau of Fire Protection are ready for deployment to conduct pre-emptive evacuation procedures and emergency response. The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) issued warnings to all airports, seaports and land terminals.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines declared a Red Alert level in three of their command centers based in areas that will be hit by the typhoon, while the Department of Health activated its Emergency Operations Center.