SCIENCE-8
PAGASA ON DUTY
Typhoons in the Philippines can occur any time of the year, with the
months of June to September being most active, with August being the
most active individual month and May the least active. Approximately 20
tropical cyclones enter the Philippine area of responsibility yearly, an area
which incorporates parts of the Pacific Ocean, the South China Sea, and
the Philippine Archipelago (with the exception of Tawi-Tawi province). In
each year, ten cyclones are usually expected to be typhoons, with five
having the potential to be destructive ones. [3] According to a 2013 Time
Magazine article, the Philippines is "the most exposed country in the
world to tropical storms".[4] In the Philippine languages, tropical cyclones
are generally called bagyo.[5]
Typhoons usually move east to west across the country, heading north or
west as they go. Storms most frequently make landfall on the islands of
Eastern Visayas, Bicol region, and northern Luzon,[4] whereas the southern
island and region of Mindanao is largely free of typhoons. Climate change
is likely to worsen the situation, with extreme weather events including
typhoons posing various risks and threats to the Philippines.[6]
The deadliest overall tropical cyclone to affect the Philippines is believed
to have been the Haiphong typhoon, which is estimated to have killed up
to 20,000 people as it passed over the country in September 1881. In
modern meteorological records, the deadliest storm was Typhoon Yolanda
(international name Haiyan), which became the strongest landfalling
tropical cyclone on record as it crossed the Visayas in central Philippines
on November 7–8, 2013. The wettest known tropical cyclone to impact the
archipelago was the July 14–18, 1911 cyclone which dropped over 2,210
millimeters (87 in) of rainfall within a 3-day, 15-hour period in Baguio.[7]
Tropical cyclones usually account for at least 30 percent of the annual
rainfall in the northern Philippines while being responsible for less than 10
percent of the annual rainfall in the southern islands. PAGASA Senior
Weather Specialist Anthony Lucero told the newsite Rappler that the
number of destructive typhoons have increased recently but it is too early
to call it a trend.[3]
Tropical cyclones entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility, as well
as tropical depressions that form within it, are given a local name by the
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA), which also raises public storm signal
warnings as deemed necessary.[8][9]
Preparation and response to typhoons is coordinated by the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Each
Philippine province and local government in the Philippines has a
corresponding Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office
(DRRMO). Each provincial and local government is required to set aside
5% of its yearly budget for disaster risk reduction, preparations, and
response.[3]
The frequency of typhoons in the Philippines have made typhoons a
significant part of everyday ancient and modern Filipino culture.[4]
The frequency of typhoons in the Philippines have made typhoons
a significant part of everyday ancient and modern Filipino culture.[4]
Category Sustained winds TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING
Super typhoon (STY) >220 km/h
SIGNALS
PAGASA's
Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS)
>119 knots
Warning Signal Meaning
Typhoon (TY) 118–220 km/h
64–119 knots
winds of 30–60 km/h (20-37 mph)
TCWS #1
are prevailing or expected to occur within 36 hours
Severe tropical storm (STS) 89–117 km/h
winds of 61–120 km/h (38–73 mph)
TCWS #2 48–63 knots to occur within 24 hours
are prevailing or expected
winds of 121–170 km/h (74–105 mph)
Tropical
TCWS storm
#3 (TS) 62–88 km/h
are prevailing or expected to occur within 18 hours
34–47 knots
winds of 171–220 km/h (106–137 mph)
TCWS #4
are prevailing or expected to occur within 12 hours
Tropical depression (TD) ≤61 km/h
winds greater than 220 km/h (137 mph)
TCWS #5
are prevailing or expected to occur within 12 hours
≤33 knots
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA) releases tropical cyclone warnings in the form of tropical cyclone warning signals. [9] An
area having a storm signal may be under:
TCWS #1 – Tropical cyclone winds of 30 km/h (19 mph) to 60 km/h (37 mph) are expected within the next 36 hours. (Note: If
a tropical cyclone forms very close to the area, then a shorter lead time is seen on the warning bulletin.)
TCWS #2 – Tropical cyclone winds of 61 km/h (38 mph) to 120 km/h (75 mph) are expected within the next 24 hours.
TCWS #3 – Tropical cyclone winds of 121 km/h (75 mph) to 170 km/h (110 mph) are expected within the next 18 hours.
TCWS #4 – Tropical cyclone winds of 171 km/h (106 mph) to 220 km/h (140 mph) are expected within 12 hours.
TCWS #5 – Tropical cyclone winds greater than 220 km/h (140 mph) are expected within 12 hours.
These tropical cyclone warning signals are usually raised when an area (in the Philippines only) is about to be hit by a tropical
cyclone. As a tropical cyclone gains strength and/or gets nearer to an area having a storm signal, the warning may be upgraded
to a higher one in that particular area (e.g. a signal No. 1 warning for an area may be increased to signal #3). Conversely, as a
tropical cyclone weakens and/or gets farther to an area, it may be downgraded to a lower signal or may be lifted (that is, an area
will have no storm signal).
Classes for preschool are canceled when signal No. 1 is in effect. Elementary and high school classes and below are canceled
under signal No. 2 and classes for colleges, universities and below are canceled under signal Nos. 3, 4 and 5.
