‘Chedeng’ moves closer toward Samar

Tropical storm "Chedeng" (Songda) maintained its strength Monday afternoon as it continued to move closer to Eastern Samar, even as state weather forecasters warned of floods and landslides over parts of Mindanao. In its 5 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said "Chedeng" was estimated at 720 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar as of 2 p.m. PAGASA said "Chedeng" packed maximum sustained winds of 95 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 120 kph, and is forecast to move west-northwest at 15 kph. "Palawan, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms becoming widespread rains over Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides," it said. Southern Luzon and the rest of Visayas will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms, it added. The rest of Luzon, meanwhile, will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening. Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Northeast to Northwest will prevail over Bicol region, Visayas and Mindanao and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the East to Southeast with slight to moderate seas. — KBK, GMA News