The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Wednesday, June 7 that while tropical storm Chedeng (international name “Guchol’) is unlikely to make landfall, it may strengthen the southwest monsoon, or "habagat," which could bring rains over the western parts of the country in the coming days.

Chedeng was last spotted 965 kilometers east-northeast of Eastern Visayas in the PAGASA’s bulletin issued at 5 p.m.

It has maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts up to 105 kph and was moving slowly west-northward.

“Chedeng will remain far from the Philippine landmass throughout the forecast period,” PAGASA said, but the “southwest monsoon may be strengthened as a result of Chedeng.”

(PAGASA)

According to PAGASA senior weather specialist Chris Perez, heavy rains from Chedeng are unlikely in the next three to five days, but rains from cyclone-enhanced habagat and localized thunderstorms may affect the western parts of the country.

“Although the current forecast scenario for this tropical cyclone may result in the enhancement of the southwest monsoon, the timing and intensity of monsoon rains over the country, especially in the western portion, may still change due to the dependence of monsoon enhancement on the forecast movement and intensity of Chedeng and its interaction with the other weather systems surrounding it,” he pointed out.

The public is advised to continue monitoring PAGASA’s updates on the potential enhancement of the southwest monsoon.

PAGASA will issue weather advisories if the likelihood of heavy monsoon rains increases over the next three days.