U N D E R S TA N D I N G

TYPHOONS

B Y: Q U E E N N I C O L E G R AC E
B AG U I NAO N
& CLARISSE CABEZA
 OVERVIEW:
•Every year the Philippines is hit by
typhoons. No part of the country is spared.
All province have been visited by a typhoon
at one time or another. In recent years, the
Philippines had been overwhelmed by a
powerful tropical cyclones.
•Who Could forget the terrible flood
brought by Tropical Storm Ondoy in
2009? Or the people swept out to sea
during Tropical Storm Sendong in 2011?
Or the poor community of New
Bataan buried in mud spawned by
Typhoon Pablo in 2012?
•According to Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical, and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA,)
about 20 tropical cyclones enter the
Philippine Area of Responsibility each
year.
WHAT IS TYPHOON?
• We all know what a typhoon is, or more
accurately, we know what to expect when a
typhoon comes. We get a lot of rain and strong
winds. Now, you may not have noticed it but
the winds in a typhoon move in a certain
direction.
A SUPER TYPHOON AS SEEN FROM
H I G H A B O V E T H E E A R T H ; AT T H E
If the wind speed is less,
CENTER IS THE “EYE” OF THE SUPER
TYPHOON.
from 119 to 200 kph, then
it is called a typhoon.
If the wind is between 65
and 118 kph, it is called a
tropical storm.
And when the wind speed
is between 35 to 64 kph, it
is a tropical depression.
 TROPICAL CYCLONE
Maximum Wind
•Categories of Category Speed kilometers
per hour (kph)
Tropical Cyclones: Tropical 64
Depression
Tropical Depression Tropical Storm 118
Tropical Storm Typhoon 200
Typhoon
Supertyphoon Greater than 200
Super Typhoon
• Tropical Cyclone- A system of thunderstorms that are moving around a
center.
As the winds intensify or weaken, the category is upgraded or
downgraded accordingly.
The term Typhoon is used only in he northwestern part of the pacific
ocean. In the northeastern part of the Pacific Ocean and in the Northern
part of the Atlantic Ocean.
The equivalent term is hurricane. Thus, a hurricane on one side of the
Pacific Ocean will be called a typhoon if it crosses into the other side.

• In the Philippines, we use the same word for all

categories of tropical cyclones. We call it Bagyo
whether it is tropical depression, a tropical storm
or a typhoon.
UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS DO
TROPICAL CYCLONES FORM?
•These are the tracks or paths of four
tropical cyclones that entered the PAR in
the past years.
TROPICAL CYCLONE AGATON BACK IN
2002 • The
name Agaton has
been used five
times in
the Philippines by P
AGASA in the
Western Pacific.
TROPICAL CYCLONE • The Special Tropical Cyclone
Reconnaissance, Information
HARUROT BACK IN Dissemination and Damage

2003 Evaluation (STRIDE) Team

investigated damages due to
the passage of Typhoon
\"HARUROT\" during the period July
19-23, 2003. Typhoon Harurot hit the
area of Isabela, Ifugao, Mountain
Provinces, Abra, and Ilocos Sur. The
center of typhoon Harurot passed
south of Municipality of Palanan,
Isabela and passed between Ilagan
and Echague on 22 July 2003 at about
11 am and exited South of Vigan,
Ilocos, Sur.
• The barograph trace over Cabanatuan and Muñoz was 991.2
mb and 988.6 mb respectively and the 6-hrly rainfall
recorded was 37.0 mm and 105 mm respectively. The
forecasted wind force dated July 22, 2003 at 0600z was 190
kph and a gustiness up to 230 kph. However, the recorded
maximum wind was 54 kph over Muñoz Synoptic Station at
Nueva Ecija. The worst hit area was the Isabela Province
particularly the municipalities of Palanan, Echague and Ilagan.
Wind damages was moslty on corn and banana plantation. Big
trees, school and houses unroofed and sole electric post was
also toppled down.
TROPICAL CYCLONE YOYONG BACK IN
2004 • Typhoon Nanmadol, known in
the Philippines as Typhoon
Yoyong,[2] was the last of four
consecutive tropical cyclones to
strike the Philippines in 2004. A
quickly moving system, Nanmadol
brought heavy rainfall and strong
winds over the same regions
impacted by the previous storms,
exacerbating flood conditions
in Luzon and surrounding regions.
TROPICAL CYCLONE HUANING BACK
IN 2005 • The name Juaning (not to
be confused with Typhoon
Huaning) was submitted
by PAGASA for tropical
storms that formed in
2003, 2007, and 2011. All
three storms are thus
known as Tropical Storm
Juaning in the Philippines
but have different official
names as chosen by
the Japan Meteorological
Agency.
• Tropical cyclones require warm ocean waters to be able to
develop.
• According to scientists, the temperature of ocean water must
be 26.5°C or greater.

Why that the tropical cyclones generally move in northwest

direction?

Ans. The reason is because there are large-scale winds that

push the tropical cyclones in that direction (which is the
northwestern). This is also similar to the way a whirlpool
carried along by a flowing stream.
Three of the tropical cyclones mentioned above
weakened and died out near land.

Agaton dissipated in Luzon,

Yoyong in Taiwan,
Huaning near Mainland China

This means that when tropical cyclones reach land, they

die out because they are cut off from the warm ocean
waters that keep them going.
• The lowest air pressure is at the eye of a tropical cyclone. All tropical
cyclones have low air pressure at the center. The eye of a tropical
cyclone, wind speed is low. But in the dense clouds surrounding the
eye, at the eyewall itself, the wind speed is great. When newspapers
report that a tropical cyclone has sustained winds of 300 km/hour,
for instance, they are referring to the winds at the eyewall.
• When the eye of a tropical cyclone passes over a certain place, it is
the winds at the eyewall that wreak a lot of damage. As it approaches,
one side of the eyewall bring strong winds blowing in one direction.
Then comes the eye with its somewhat calm weather. As it leaves, the
other side of the eyewall brings strong winds again, but this time in
the opposite direction.
EYE OF SUPER TYPHOON MAYSAK
ARE YOU PREPARED?
• When a tropical cyclone enters the PAR and it is on
its way toward land, warning signals are issued. The
following signals are used by PAGASA to warn
people about the approaching weather disturbance.
PUBLIC STORM WARNING SIGNALS
(PSWS)
PSWS # 1
What it means
A tropical cyclone will affect
the locally
Winds og 30-60 kph may be
expected in at least 36 hours
or irregular rains may be
edpected within 36 hours
The following may happen
Twigs and branches of small trees are
broken
Some banana plants are tilted or
downed
Some houses of very light materials
partially unroofed
Rice crops suffer significant damage in
its flowering stage
What to do
Watch out for big waves
Listen to severe weather bulletin issued
by PAGASA
PSWS # 2
What it means
A tropical cyclone will affect the locality
Winds of greater than 60 kph up to 100
kph may be expected in at least 24
hours
The following may happen
Large number of nipa and cogon houses
may be partially or totally unroofed
Some old galvanized iron roon may be
peeled off
Winds may bring light to moderate damage
to esposed communities
Some coconut trees may be tilted while few
are broken
Few big trees may be uprooted
Many banana plants may be downed
Rice and corn may be adversely affected
What to do
Avoid riding small seacraft
Those who travel by sea and air should
avoid unnecessary risks
Postpone outdoor activities of children
PSWS # 3
What it means
A tropical cyclone will affect locality
Winds of greater than 100 kph to 185
kph may be expected in at least 18
hours
The following may happen
Many coconut trees broken or
destroyed
Almost all banana plants downed and a
large number of trees uprooted
Rice and corn crops suffer heavy losses
Majority of all nipa and cogon houses
uprooted or
destroyed; considerable damage to
structures of light to medium
construction
Widespread disruption of electrical
power and communication services
Moderate to heavy damage
experienced in agricultural and
industrial sectors
What to do
Avoid riding in any seacraft
Seek shelter in strong buildings
Evacuate from low-lying areas
Stay away from coasts and river
banks
PSWS # 4
What it means
A very intense typhoon will affect locality
very strong winds of more than 185 kph
maybe expected in at least 12 hours
The following may happen
Coconut plantation may suffer extensive
damage
Many large trees maybe uprooted
Rica and corn plantation may suffer severe
losses
Most residential and institutional buildings
of mixed construction maybe severely
damaged
Electrical power distribution and
communication services maybe
severely disrupted
Damage to affected communities
can be very heavy
What to do
All travels and outdoor activities
should be cancelled
Evacuation to safer shelters should
have been completed by now
The locality is very likely to be hit
directly by the eye of the typhoon
To be fully prepared for tropical cyclones, you should
also put together an emergency kit which includes the
following: drinking water, canned goods, can opener,
radio, flashlight, extra batteries, clothes, blanket, and first
aid kit. You never know when you will need it. You must
learn how to rely on yourself. In times of disaster, it may
take a while before help arrives.

THE END