Typhoon Songda (Chedeng) Update #19

Typhoon Songda (Chedeng) continues to weaken as it leaves the Philippine Area of Responsibility. It was last located approximately 280km southwest of Okinawa. Songda is still a strong Category 2 typhoon with sustained winds of up to 160kph and gusts reaching up to 200kph. It is moving NNE at 40kph. Wind reports from Miyakojima less than an hour ago confirmed those estimates. Also reports from Okinawa show that the areas there are starting to feel tropical storm force winds; expect those winds to continue increasing throughout the afternoon.

As of 11am PhT, Signal #1 is still in effect for Batanes Group of Islands. Rainfall reports from Itbayat and Basco range from 60-80mm which is light to moderate.

Not much has changed on our forecast although we have adjusted the weakening rate due to the recent trends. We still expect Songda to pass less than 150km WEST of Okinawa early tonight, around 7pm Japan time. The island should experience typhoon force winds due to it being on the right half of the storm. Storm surge and high waves are also likely.

Songda will continue moving northeastward weakening to a Category 1 by Sunday morning. It should pass south of Kagoshima before weakening to a Tropical Storm. It should brush southern Honshu but not expected to go farther inland. It should continue weakening, finally becoming an extratropical cyclone as early as Monday.


For those in Japan, you can visit JMA's website for the latest reports about Songda. Here is the link for the radar image in Okinawa:

LINK

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Issued (0730 UTC) 330pm PhT 052811