MANILA, Philippines – Tropical storm ‘Chedeng’ (international name Songda) was expected to make landfall by Thursday afternoon or Friday morning in Cagayan and Isabela, a forecaster from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) told Radyo Inquirer in an interview Monday.
Pagasa forecaster Sonny Pajarilla placed ‘Chedeng’ 835 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar Monday morning, adding that it was expected to move west northwest at 13 kph.
He said that the tropical storm packed maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph.
Pajarilla said that ‘Chedeng’ was expected to bring in a large volume of rainfall.
The third tropical storm to enter the country this year was expected to “gradually accelerate within 24 hours and make landfall either on Thursday afternoon or Friday morning,” said Pajarilla.
He told Radyo Inquirer that ‘Chedeng’ may reach Samar Island and Catanduanes by Wednesday.
Karen Boncocan, Inquirer.net