THE SOUTHWEST monsoon enhanced by typhoon Guchol, locally known as Chedeng, will bring “occasional to monsoon” rains over the western portions of Luzon and Visayas in the next few days, according to state weather bureau PAGASA.
“While the effect of Chedeng on the monsoon will decrease as it moves further away from the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the formation of a frontal system north of Extreme Northern Luzon will continue to mainly enhance the Southwest Monsoon from Tuesday onwards and affect most of Luzon, especially the western and extreme northern portions,” the agency said in a Sunday bulletin.
The center of Chedeng was last spotted at 1,100 kilometers (km) east-northeast of extreme northern Luzon.
PAGASA said no wind signals due to Chedeng will be hoisted “for the remainder of the forecast period.”
However, the agency said the enhancement of the southwest monsoon may bring gusty conditions on Monday over Batanes, Babuyan Islands, Ilocos Region, Cordillera Administrative Region, Nueva Vizcaya, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Romblon, Marinduque, northern mainland Palawan, Calamian Islands, Cuyo Islands, Kalayaan Islands, Bicol Region, and Western Visayas.
“Gusty conditions will still continue over most of Luzon from Tuesday onwards as the Southwest Monsoon will be enhanced by another weather system,” PAGASA said.
The typhoon had maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 150 kph, PAGASA said.
Chedeng was expected to leave the PAR on Sunday night, PAGASA said in a briefing later in the day.
“It is forecast to accelerate northeastward,” said the bureau, which expected Chedeng to weaken into a severe tropical storm within the day. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza