'Chedeng' weakens as it barrels toward Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon "Chedeng" slightly weakened but continues to move in a west-northwest direction, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration announced on Thursday.

The typhoon entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (international name Maysak) around midnight Thursday.

READ: Typhoon 'Chedeng' enters PAR

At 10:00 a.m., the typhoon was located 995 kilometers (km) east of Catarman, Northern Samar or 915 km east northeast of Borongan, Eastern Samar.

"Chedeng" packs maximum sustained winds of 175 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 210 kph. It is forecasted to move west northwest at 19 kph.

"Estimated rainfall amount is from moderate to heavy within 150 to 200 km radius of the typhoon," PAGASA said in an update.

The weather bureau is set to raise public storm signal number 1 over Bicol region and Samar provinces within the next 12 hours.

The typhoon is expected to make landfall over Aurora or Isabela by late Saturday to early Sunday, PAGASA added.

PAGASA warned residents of Aurora-Isabela area for possible flashfloods in low-lying areas and landslides along mountain slopes.