It caused moderate damage in the Philippines when it paralleled the country to the east as a Category 5–equivalent super typhoon; it later affected Taiwan and Japan as a weakening system.

Under favorable conditions, Songda slowly intensified as it entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, with the PAGASA naming it Chedeng on May 23.

Despite the storm becoming extratropical as it passed Japan, it caused heavy rains which led to flash floods and there were also reports of landslides.

[2] Under the influence of a subtropical ridge, the small system rapidly became organized, with the JMA issuing its first advisory as a minor tropical depression on the same day.

[2] On the morning of May 21, both the JMA and the JTWC reported in their bulletins that the depression finally strengthened to a tropical storm, with the former naming it Songda.

[6][2][7] It further strengthened, peaking with 1-minute sustained winds of 195 km/h (120 mph) and with a minimum central pressure of 920 hPa (mbar; 27.17 inHg) on the next day, May 27.

[5][6][8] As forecasted, Songda brought widespread floods and various landslides across the region, forcing over 313,000 people to flee temporarily.

They also warned the people, to be ready in case of heavy flooding as the typhoon passes to the east of the island country.

[9] On Thursday, Chinese meteorological authorities issued a warning for the super typhoon, which is moving close to the southern coast of the country, causing powerful winds and waves.

The 11th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Okinawa Prefecture was deployed, in case of marine emergencies due to the storm approaching the country.