What do Typhoon Signals mean?

SCIENCE 8 GROUP 7

The Philippine Public

Storm Warning
Signals. Public Storm
Warning Signals are
raised to warn
the public of incoming
weather disturbances.
Once a Storm Signal is
raised, conditions are
not yet necessarily felt
in the given area.
PAGASA’s Public
Storm Warning Signals
or PSWS describe the weather conditions like wind speed and rainfall, as
well as the amount of time before those conditions occur at a certain locality.
One very helpful feature of PAGASA’s PSWS is the list of precautionary
measures people can take to be prepared for the coming storm, and how
much time they have left to prepare before the strong winds actually affect
their locality.

Public Storm Warning Signals

Public Storm Warning Signal no. 1
 When PSWS #1 is hoisted in a locality, all preschool classes in affected
areas are automatically suspended.
 Winds of 30-60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent
rains may be expected within 36 hours.
 The weather disturbance is expected in 36 hours once Public Storm
Warning Signal No. 1 is raised.
Unless this warning signal is upgraded during the entire existence of the
tropical cyclone, only very light or no damage at all may be sustained by
the exposed communities.
Public Storm Warning Signal no. 2
 When PSWS #2 is hoisted, classes in preschool, elementary, and
highschool are suspended.
 Winds of more than 60 kph and up to 100 kph may be expected in at
least 24 hours.
 The weather disturbance is expected in 24 hours once Public Storm
Warning Signal No. 2 is raised.
In general, the winds may bring light to moderate damage to the exposed
communities.

Public Storm Warning Signal no. 3

• Classes in College are suspended when PSWS #3 is raised in that specific
area.
• Winds of more than 100 kph up to 185 kph may be expected within 18
hours.
• The weather disturbance is expected in 18 hours once Public Storm
Warning Signal No. 3 is raised.

In general, moderate to heavy damage may be experienced, particularly in the

agricultural and industrial sectors.

Public Storm Warning Signal no. 4

• All Classes are suspended.
• Very strong winds of more than 185 kph may be expected in at least 12
hours.
• The weather disturbance is expected in 12 hours once Public Storm
Warning Signal No. 4 is raised.
Damage to affected communities can be very heavy.