The Philippine Star

Chedeng enters Phl

- Helen Flores

Moderate to heavy rains are expected over parts of Mindanao today and tomorrow due to Tropical Depression Chedeng, which entered the Philippine area of responsibi­lity before noon yesterday.

The rains from Chedeng, however, are not expected to reach areas that have been experienci­ng a dry spell and drought in the past months due to a weak El Niño.

Scattered to at times widespread moderate to heavy rains are expected to prevail over Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental,

Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte Monday, and in most parts of Mindanao Tuesday, the Philippine Atmospheri­c, Geophysica­l and Astronomic­al Services Administra­tion (PAGASA) said.

“These areas are not under dry spell. Northweste­rn Mindanao is the one hit by dry spell and drought. Maybe only Maguindana­o can recover,” Ana Liza Solis, chief of PAGASA’s climate monitoring and prediction section, told The STAR.

Tropical cyclone warning signal no. 1 was raised over Davao Oriental as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

The weather disturbanc­e was forecast to make landfall over the eastern coast of Davao Oriental between tonight and tomorrow morning.

As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Chedeng was spotted at 830 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

It packed winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 60 kph. It was forecast to move west at a speed of 25 kph.

PAGASA was expected to raise tropical cyclone warning signal No. 1 over Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley late last night.

Chedeng would also bring moderate to rough seas over the eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao in the next two days, PAGASA warned.

The agency advised those using small seacraft against sailing over the eastern seaboards of Visayas and Mindanao and in areas along the cyclone’s path.

If it maintains its present speed and track, the tropical depression was projected to be at 330 km east southeast of Hinatuan this afternoon; at 85 km south southwest of Cotabato City tomorrow afternoon; and at 200 km west of Zamboanga City by Wednesday afternoon.

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