PAGASA: 'Chedeng' intensifies into a typhoon

UPDATED 12: 45 p.m. - Tropical storm "Chedeng" (international name: Songda) has intensified into a typhoon on Wednesday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. PAGASA said "Chedeng" packed maximum winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) at the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph, radio dzBB's Allan Gatus reported. "Chedeng" was moving west-northwest towards the waters east of Luzon, PAGASA reported in its 11 a.m. update. PAGASA said as of 10:00 a.m., "Chedeng" was estimated at 350 kilometers (km) east of Catarman, Northern Samar. As of 11:00 a.m., PAGASA said the areas under Signal No. 2 were Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte and Samar Provinces. Under Signal No. 1 were Marinduque, Masbate, Burias and Ticao Islands, Southern Quezon and Polilio Islands, Northern Leyte and Biliran Islands. Slow-moving typhoon The Japan Meteorological Agency, in its 11:40 a.m. update said "Chedeng" was moving west "slowly" and packed maximum winds of 75 knots (135 kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 105 knots (194.46 kph). The JMA's 11:40 a.m. update projected "Chedeng" to reach the:

east of Luzon by Thursday;

east of Northeast Luzon by Friday, and

east of Extreme Northern Luzon by Saturday. HPA slowing down Chedeng Earlier, PAGASA forecaster Mario Palafox said the ridge of a high-pressure area near "Chedeng" caused it to slow down. "Naimpluwensya ng ridge of high-pressure area sa taas niya, sa bandang northeast, ang bagyo at ito ang nagpapabagal sa kanya sa ngayon," Palafox said in an earlier interview on dzBB radio. Dams being monitored Meanwhile, the PAGASA is keeping watch over major dams in Luzon amid threats of heavy rains from tropical storm "Chedeng." PAGASA senior forecaster Robert Sawi told Radio dzBB that the dams are still below spilling level as of Wednesday morning. He said they will issue advisories if they need to release water from the dams due to rains from "Chedeng." PAGASA's 6 a.m. update on the major dams showed the level of the major dams:

Angat: 191.47 meters, below spilling level of 210 meters

Ipo: 99.63 meters, below spilling level of 100.87 meters

La Mesa: 79.74 meters, below spilling level of 80 meters

Ambuklao: 751.95 meters, below spilling level of 752 meters

Binga: 571.90 meters, below spilling level of 575 meters

San Roque: 232.04 meters, below spilling level of 280 meters

Pantabangan: 180.91 meters, below spilling level of 221 meters

Magat: 187.04 meters, below spilling level of 193 meters

Caliraya: 286.5 meters, below spilling level of 288 meters - VVP, GMA News