Typhoons in the Philippines

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Typhoon Mike (Ruping) near peak intensity in November 1990
Typhoon Megi nearing landfall over the Philippines on October 18, 2010
Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) to make landfall over Leyte in November 2013

In the Philippines, tropical cyclones (typhoons) are called bagyo.[1] Tropical cyclones entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility 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.[2][3] Around 19 tropical cyclones or storms enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility in a typical year and of these usually 6 to 9 make landfall.[4][5]

The deadliest overall tropical cyclone to impact 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 Haiyan, which became the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone ever recorded as it crossed the 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 millimetres (87 in) of rainfall within a 3-day, 15-hour period in Baguio City.[6] 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.

The Philippines is the most-exposed large country in the world to tropical cyclones; the cyclones have even affected settlement patterns in the northern islands: for example, the eastern coast of Luzon is very sparsely populated.[citation needed]

Etymology and naming conventions

It is said that the term bagyo, a Filipino word meaning typhoon arose after a 1911 storm in the city of Baguio had a record rainfall of 46 inches within a 24-hour period.[1][7][8]

However, this theory is impossible because the Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala first published in 1754 contains an entry for "BAG-YO" which translates it as "Tempestad, uracan" (tempest, hurricane), proof that the term "bagyo" already existed in Tagalog in the 1700s. The reverse entry for "Huracan" translates it into Tagalog as "Baguio, Bag-yo".

Names of storms

Since the middle of the 20th Century, American forecasters have named tropical storms after people, originally using only female names.[9] Philippine forecasters from the now-PAGASA started assigning Filipino names to storms in 1963 following the American practice, using names of people in alphabetical order, from A to Z.[9] Beginning in January 2000, the World Meteorological Organization"s Typhoon Committee began assigning names to storms nominated by the 14 Asian countries who are members with each country getting 2 to 3 a year.[9] These names, unlike the American and Filipino traditions, are not names for people exclusively but include flowers, animals, food, etc. and they are not in alphabetical order by name but rather in alphabetical order by the country that nominated the name.[9] After January 2000, Filipino forecasters continued their tradition of naming storms that enter the Philippines Area of Responsibility and so there are often two names for each storm, the PAGASA name and the so-called "international name".

PAGASA's Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale
Category Sustained winds
Super Typhoon ≥119 knots
≥220 km/h
Typhoon 64–119 knots
118–220 km/h
Severe Tropical Storm 48–63 knots
89–117 km/h
Tropical Storm 34–47 knots
62–88 km/h
Tropical Depression ≤33 knots
≤61 km/h

Variability in activity

On an annual time scale, activity reaches a minimum in May, before increasing steadily through June, and spiking from July through September, with August being the most active month for tropical cyclones in the Philippines. Activity falls off significantly in October.[10] The most active season, since 1945, for tropical cyclone strikes on the island archipelago was 1993 when nineteen tropical cyclones moved through the country (though there were 36 storms that were named by PAGASA).[11] There was only one tropical cyclone which moved through the Philippines in 1958.[12] The most frequently impacted areas of the Philippines by tropical cyclones are northern Luzon and eastern Visayas.[13] A ten-year average of satellite determined precipitation showed that at least 30 percent of the annual rainfall in the northern Philippines could be traced to tropical cyclones, while the southern islands receive less than 10 percent of their annual rainfall from tropical cyclones.[14]

Public Storm Warning Signals

Signal #1
winds of 30–60 km/h (20-37 mph) are expected to occur within 36 hours
Signal #2
winds of 61–120 km/h (38–73 mph) are expected to occur within 24 hours
Signal #3
winds of 121–170 km/h, (74–105 mph) are expected to occur within 18 hours.
Signal #4
winds of 171–220 km/h, (106–137 mph) are expected to occur within 12 hours.
Signal #5
winds of at least 220 km/h, (137 mph) are expected to occur within 12 hours.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) releases tropical cyclone warnings in the form of Public Storm Warning Signals.[3] An area having a storm signal may be under:

  • PSWS #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.)
  • PSWS #2 - Tropical cyclone winds of 61 km/h (38 mph) to 120 km/h (75 mph) are expected within the next 24 hours.
  • PSWS #3 - Tropical cyclone winds of 121 km/h (75 mph) to 170 km/h (110 mph) are expected within the next 18 hours.
  • PSWS #4 - Tropical cyclone winds of 171 km/h (106 mph) to 220 km/h (140 mph) are expected within 12 hours.
  • PSWS #5 - Tropical cyclone winds greater than 220 km/h (140 mph) are expected within 12 hours.

These storm 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 cancelled under Signal No. 2 and classes for Colleges and Universities and below are cancelled under Signal Nos. 3, 4 and 5.

Deadliest Cyclones

Rank[15] Storm Dates of impact Deaths
1 Haiphong 1881 1881, September 27 20,000
2 Haiyan/Yolanda 2013 2013, November 7–8 6,300[16]
3 Thelma/Uring 1991 1991, November 4–7 5,101[17]
4 Bopha/Pablo 2012 2012, December 2–9 1,901
5 Angela Typhoon 1867, September 22 1,800[18]
6 Winnie 2004 2004, November 27–29 1,593
7 October 1897 Typhoon 1897, October 7 1,500[18]
8 Ike/Nitang 1984 1984, September 3–6 1,492
9 Fengshen/Frank 2008 2008, June 20–23 1,410
10 Durian/Reming 2006 2006, November 29-December 1 1,399

Most destructive

Animated enhanced infrared satellite loop of Typhoon Haiyan from peak intensity to landfall in the Philippines
Rank Name Year PHP USD
1 Haiyan (Yolanda) 2013 89.6 billion 2.02 billion
2 Bopha (Pablo) 2012 42.2 billion 1.04 billion
3 Rammasun (Glenda) 2014 38.6 billion 871 million
4 Parma (Pepeng) 2009 27.3 billion 608 million
5 Nesat (Pedring) 2011 15 billion 333 million
6 Fengshen (Frank) 2008 13.5 billion 301 million
7 Megi (Juan) 2010 11 billion 255 million
8 Ketsana (Ondoy) 2009 11 billion 244 million
9 Mike (Ruping) 1990 10.8 billion 241 million
10 Angela (Rosing) 1995 10.8 billion 241 million
Sources
  1. Destructive Typhoons from 1970 until 2003 by NDRRMC.
  2. Situation Report No. 50 of the Effects of TS Ondoy and TY Pepeng by NDRRMC.
  3. Situation Report No. 27 of the Effects of TS Juan by NDRRMC.
  4. Situation Report No. 38 of the Effects of TY Pablo by the NDRRMC.
  5. NDRRMC Updates re Effects of TY YOLANDA (HAIYAN)
  6. NDRRMC FINAL REPORT re Effects of Typhoon "GLENDA" (RAMMASUN)

Wettest recorded tropical cyclones

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Main article: List of wettest tropical cyclones by country
Wettest tropical cyclones and their remnants in the Philippine islands
Highest known totals
Precipitation Storm Location Ref.
Rank mm in
1 2210.0 87.01 July 1911 cyclone Baguio City [19]
2 1854.3 73.00 Parma (Pepeng) 2009 Baguio City [20]
3 1216.0 47.86 Carla (Trining) 1967 Baguio City [19]
4 1116.0 43.94 Zeb (Iliang) 1998 La Trinidad, Benguet [21]
5 1085.8 42.74 Utor (Feria) 2001 Baguio City [22]
6 1077.8 42.43 Koppu (Lando) 2015 Baguio City [20]
7 1012.7 39.87 Mindulle (Igme) 2004 [23]
8 902.0 35.51 Kujira (Dante) 2009 [24]
9 879.9 34.64 September 1929 typhoon Virac, Catanduanes [25]
10 869.6 34.24 Dinah (Openg) 1977 Western Luzon [26]

See also

For other storms impacting the Philippines in deadly seasons, see:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Glossary of Meteorology. Baguio. Retrieved on 2008-06-11.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Republic of the Philippines. Department of Science and Technology. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. (n.d.). The Modified Philippine Public Storm Warning Signals. Retrieved February 24, 2011.
  4. ↑ Joint Typhoon Warning Center. Appendix B: Characteristics of Tropical Cyclones Affecting the Philippine Islands (Shoemaker 1991). Retrieved on 2008-04-20.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Ten Worst Typhoons of the Philippines (A Summary)
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Leoncio A. Amadore, PhD Socio-Economic Impacts of Extreme Climatic Events in the Philippines. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Leoncio A. Amadore, Ph.D. Socio-Economic Impacts of Extreme Climatic Events in the Philippines. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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