DRRR

HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS
-is a process or phenomenon of atmospheric, hydrological, or oceanographic nature
that may cause loss of life injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of
livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage
which include tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, hailstorm, tornadoes, blizzards,
heavy snowfall, avalanches, coastal storm surges, floods including flash floods,
drought, heat wave, and cold spells.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER-RELATED HAZARDS

- refer to the direct and indirect effects of observed changes and projected deviations
from present-day conditions of natural events such as tropical cyclones, droughts, El
Nino and La Nina Events.

Typhoon

● In the Philippines, tropical cyclones are called “bagyo”. It is a general term to

describe a major weather disturbance in the tropics
● It is the most destructive weather disturbance because it is accompanied by a
strong wind that usually destroys houses and other infrastructures.

A. DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE OF CYCLONES - The developmental stage of

tropical cyclones may be divided into three stages.

1. Formation and initial development

● the first stage of the developmental stages of cyclones.

● In order for a cyclone to form, it must have a warm sea temperature of about
27 degrees centigrade and above.
● As the warm moist air rises, it cools and forms clouds and the water vapor in it
condenses into water droplets and falls as rain.

2. Full Maturity

The atmosphere can usually organize into a tropical cyclone in two to four days and
is characterized by increasing thunderstorms and rain squalls at sea.

Meteorologists can monitor these processes in weather satellites and radar as far as
400 km away from the storm.

3. Modification or Decay Stage

● Depending on the tract over the warm tropical sea and proximity to land, they
may last from less than 24 hours to more than three weeks.
● 6 days- the average lifespan
● Movement varies from 8 to 24 kph.
B. CLASSIFICATION OF TROPICAL STORMS
C. How to Plot Tropical Cyclone(TC) Using Tracking Chart

D. SUPER TYPHOON HAIYAN (YOLANDA)

- The Joint Typhoon Warming Center (JTWC) estimated the storm to have attained
Category 5-equivalent to a super typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind
scale.

E. Annual Typhoon Pattern in the Philippines

● All over the world, there are 80 to 90 cyclones per year with an average of
50 cyclones in the northern hemisphere and 28 in the southern
hemisphere.
● Tropical cyclones form in all oceans of the world except the South Atlantic
and South Pacific East of 140 degrees West Longitude.
● One-quarter forms between 5 to 10 degrees latitude of the equator.
Climate- precipitation, temperature, humidity, winds, cloudiness, and other
atmospheric conditions or characterization of a locality or region over an extended
period of time.

Rainfall and tropical cyclones- are the two most significant components affecting the
climate of the Philippines.

Global warming (interchangeably called climate change) - has an effect on the

climatological tracks of tropical cyclones nowadays.

Climate change, characterized by extreme climatic anomalies and weather events, is

alarming due to increasing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) concentrations in the
atmosphere caused by human activity (ex. excessive emission of carbon dioxide in
large industries and transportation)

F. Four Types of Climate

G. Adverse effects of a typhoon

H. Beneficial Effects of a Typhoon

Tropical Cyclone brings about 50% of the water supply through rain.

Seasonal Preparedness for Typhoon

I. Typhoon Condition Checklist

It is important to be prepared in all situations. When you hear from PAGASA that
there is a typhoon, you need to do and remember the following:
CONDITION 1

(within 78 hours arrival of forecast wind)

Are canned/nonperishable foods and water on hand of enough quantities for all
family members? Are you informed on the typhoon status such as position, intensity,
and expected landfall? Are telephone uses limited essential calls? Have you
checked the serviceability of flashlight and extra batteries?

CONDITION 2

(within 48 hours arrival of forecast wind)

Do you have handicapped, bed-ridden family members? If so, have you arranged for
special transportation requirements? Have you secured antennas and cleared
outside areas of yards, furnitures, toys, and clotheslines? On coastal areas, are
boats secured? Are you prepared for possible evacuation? Are pets, ornamental
plants and livestocks secured? Do you have sufficient cash for evacuation
expenses? Have you moved and secured valuable furniture from the window/
refrigerator secured? Have you contacted your relatives outside your area and
informed them your decision to evacuate or remain in your home? Have you
prepared and packed your survival kid? Have you checked and seen your neighboor
if they require any help?

CONDITION 3

(within 24 Hours arrival of forecast wind)

People living in coastal areas near river channel, landslide and lahar-prone area and
houses materials should consider evacuating early to a safer location. If you live on
Barrier Island, low-lying coastal areas or near flood waters, consider leaving during
the day time so you can safely cross obstacles that affect your escape route.

J. The Three Stages of Cyclone Warning

The cyclone warning is very important and it must be given ahead of time. Such
warning has three main objectives which are listed at the side.

1. Weather advisory-A cyclone warning is issued once a day at 5:00 o'clock in the
morning except for the initial issuance which may come anytime when a severe
weather system is detected. It has a general information on the presence of a
cyclone even if it is still too far from the Philippines.

2. Severe weather bulletining Tropical Cyclone Alert- This is the second stage of a
cyclone warning and indicates that a tropical cyclone poses an impending threat on
the part of the country but still falls short of the bases for raising storm signals. it is
the second stage of a cyclone warning. This provides detailed information on the
description of the current location, movement, and intensity of tropical cyclones
including 24-hour forecast or outlook. This is issued twice a day at 11:00 o'clock in
the morning and in the evening or at any time as condition warrant.

3. Severe Weather Bulletin on Tropical Cyclone Warning - This is the third stage of
the cyclone warning indicating the real immediate threat to a part or parts of the
country from a cyclone. The forecast or outlook is more detailed in terms of future
cyclones' location and movement with respect to a particular area of reference. It is
issued four times a day at 5:00 o'clock and 11:00 o'clock in the morning and
afternoon (5 AM, 11 AM, 5 PM, 11 PM)

Determination of Wind Direction and Speed

Wind direction is found by observing the wind indicator and averaging the wind in 10
minutes is indicated by the pointer or dial. The wind speed can be determined by
averaging the indicated speed in the speed determined by averaging the indicated
speed in the speed indicator of the wind dial.

Using the specifications in the Beauport Scale of wind force, estimate the effects of
the wind on a movable object.

THUNDERSTORM

If you hear thunder 10 seconds after a lightning flash, you are about three kilometers
away; the shorter the time, the closer the lightning.

A. Precaution if You Are Caught Outdoors

STORM SURGE

- tidal wave (tide)- a result of gravitational attractions of the moon and sun on earth.

- Storm surge- generated by a typhoon.

- Storm Surge is a temporary rise of the sea level at the coast, above of the
predicted tide. It is caused by strong winds and low atmospheric pressure associated
with the passage of a typhoon.

A. Three Stages of Typical Surge Occurrence

Forerunner- the gradual increase in water level when the storm is still far from the
coast.

Main Surge- the principal stage, characterized by a sudden and substantial rise of
water level when the storm is close to the coast and extremely dangerous and
destructive to life and property - it is a raised dome of sea water 60 to 80 km across
and 2 to 5 meters above the normal sea level.
3. Resurgence- it follows the main surge. In this stage, the water gradually tends to
return to normal whena series of occilations occur.

FLOOD
Flood is an abnormal progressive rise of water level in a stream that may result in
overflowing of water from the normal confines of a stream. It is basically a natural
hydrological phenomenon. Its occurrence is usually the aftermath of a meteorological
event and is not caused by human intervention.

In the National Capital Region (NCR) such incidents are extremely common.

Coastal flooding can also occur when high tides and onshore wind in storm cause
lowland coast to flood with seawater.

A. Types of Floods

1. Slow Onset Floods. It is seasonal in most river systems and depends on rainfall
intensities in upstream areas.

2. Flash floods. (Also known as rapid onset floods) while flood takes some time,
usually from 12 to 24 hours or even longer to develop after the occurrence of intense
rainfall, this is a particular type which develops after no more than six hours rain,
frequenly, after or even less time.

3. Localized Floods. These affect only a limited area, which results from the relatively
short intense burst of rainfall often from thunderstorms, and can occur anywhere,
resulting in the high runoff, and are a serious problem in low-lying urban areas where
drainage systems are inadequate.

4. Coastal Floods- These occur when a storm surges or sea waves rise suddenly
along high tides. This type of flooding occurs during a storm when the strong wind is
in the inland direction where the sea waves are strongly pushed on coastal areas
causing the water to surge and rise and which may prevent rivers from flowing into
the sea.

Under the heavy rainfall warning system, a yellow rainfall advisory is raised when
the expected rainfall amount is between 7.5 mm and 15 mm within one hour and
likely to continue.

F. Importance of Flood Marker Installation

Flood Marker Warning is designed to help individual households determine if the

flood level is still passable or not: it also determines whether on what level you will
start with the ALERT/ MONITOR, PREPARE, EVACUATE sequence until it reaches
the Dangerous level.
EL NIÑO
-defined by prolonged warming in the Pacific Ocean sea surface temperature when
compared with the average value. The US NOAA definition is 3-month average
warming of at least 0.5 °C（0.9°F）in a Pacific Area Of the East－Central Tropical
Pacific ocean. El niño can affect typically This anomaly happens at irregular intervals
of two to seven years and lasts nine months to two years The average Period length
is five years When this warming occurs for seven to nine months it is classified As El
niño “Conditions” When it's duration is longer, it is classified As an El niño “Episode ”

La Niña
it is coupled ocean－atmosphere phenomenon that is a counterpart of El niño as part
of the broader El niño－Southern oscillation climate pattern. The term La niña comes
from the Spanish word meaning "the girl" and analogs to El niño meaning "the boy".
During the Period of La niña, the sea surface temperature across the equatorial
Eastern Central Pacific Ocean will be lower than normal by 3-5 C.

PUBLIC STORM WARNING SIGNAL (PSWS)

PSWS NO.1 Meteorological Condition

Tropical cyclones will affect the locality Wind of 30 kilometers per hour to 60
Kilometer per hour may be expected in at least 36 hours and/or intermittent rains
may be expected impact of the winds Rice crop, however, may suffer significant
damage when it is in its Flowering stage

PSWS NO.2 Meteorological Condition

A moderate Tropical Cyclone will affect the locality Winds between 61 to 100
kilometers per hour may be Expected In at least 24 hours

PSWS NO.3 Meteorological Condition

Winds Greater than 100 kilometers per hours UP to 185 kilometers per hours may be
expected within at least 18 hours.

PSWS NO.4 Meteorological Condition

Very Strong wind of more than 185 kilometer per hour or may be expected in at least
12 hours

THE ROLE OF HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICE

All human activities are affected by weather and climate. Various socio-economic
sectors in the Philippines are beginning to appreciate the value of
hydrometeorological services due to the serious impacts of recent weather and
climate events on their activities and business operations. The frequent occurrence
and increasing severity of extreme weather and climate events in the country.

ASSESSMENT OF METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES IN THE

PHILIPPINES
To further strengthen the country's preparedness against meteorological and climate
hazards, the agency made a commitment in line with the "Hyogo Framework for
Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities Against
Disasters" (HFA) with the expected outcome of "the substantial reduction of disaster
losses, in lives as well as the social, economic and environmental assets of
communities and countries

NATIONAL SETUP FOR THE PRODUCTION OF

HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL SERVICES IN THE PHILIPPINES
The PAGASA is the duty-mandated agency to provide weather climate. PAGASA
operates and maintains 98% of all hydrometeorological observation networks in the
country. All official forecasters, warnings, advisories, outlooks, and press releases on
severe weather and extreme events such as a tropical cyclones operations and
services framework. The investment portfolio is regularly upgraded. All proposed
programs are in consonance with the National Science and Technology Plan (NSTP)