UNIT 2

Module 2

UNDERSTANDING
TYPHOONS

Trivia Question:We hear

weathercasters talk about typhoons,
hurricanes and cyclones so whats the
difference?
a) Typhoons are bigger than
cyclones; cyclones are bigger than
hurricanes.
b) Hurricanes are stronger than
typhoons and cyclones.
c) Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones
occur in different geographical areas.

The correct answer is c.

Typhoons, cyclones and
hurricanes are the same
weather phenomenon the
difference is the geographical
area where they occur. They
are tropical cyclones with
regionally specific names.

Did you know that?

In 1963 by the Philippine Weather Bureau

through the use of four sets of alphabetically
arranged Filipino women nicknames ending in
ng that are alternately used every four
years. In 1999, the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services
(PAGASA) held a nationwide search for new
generation tropical cyclone names. It was
dubbed as Name the Bagyo Contest. The
result of the search which was picked out from
more than 18,000 entries was 140 no-genderbias names that will be used until 2016 by
PAGASA.

Did you know that?

According to the Philippine

Atmospheric, Geophysical, and
Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA), about 20
tropical cyclones enter the
Philippine Area of Responsibility
each year.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY?

Describe the picture

What is a
typhoon?

Winds in a typhoon move in a

certain direction; they go
around a central area.
The appearance of the clouds
in a typhoon are in a spiral
arrangement; they are being
blown by winds in a counterclockwise direction.

Tropical Cyclone Signals

CATEGORY

MAXIMUM WIND
SPEED
KILOMETERS PER
HOUR (kph)
Tropical Depression
64
Tropical Storm
118
Typhoon
200
Supertyphoon
Greater than 200
The term typhoon is used only in the 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.

PAR
(Philippine Area of
Responsibility)

Points Latutude,
Longitude
A
5oN, 115oE
B
15oN, 115oE
C
21oN, 120oE
D
25oN, 120oE
E
25oN, 135oE
F
5oN, 135oE

POINTS OF THE PAR

Can you answer these

questions?

Q1. If a typhoon is located at

o
o
15 N,138 E, is it within the
PAR?
Q2. How about if the
typhoon is at 19oN, 117oE, is
it inside the PAR?

Harurot,
2003

Yoyong, 2004

Agaton, 2002

Huaning,
2005

Can you answer these

questions?

Q1. Where did the tropical

cyclone form? On land or in
the ocean?
Q2. What can you say about
the temperature of the
bodies of water in the
vicinity of the Philippines? Is

Can you answer these

questions?

Q3. In what direction did the

tropical cyclones move?
Q4. Which part of the
Philippines was hit by the
four tropical cyclones?

Can you answer these

questions?

Q5. In the case of Agaton,

Yoyong, and Huaning, where
did they die out? Near land
or in the middle of the
ocean?

Tropical cyclones need water vapor

in order to form.
Tropical cyclones require warm
ocean waters to be able to develop.
(26.5oC or greater)
Tropical cyclones generally move in
a northwest direction.
When tropical cyclones reach land,
they die out because they are cut
off from the warm ocean waters
that keep them going.

INSIDE
TROPICAL
CYCLONES

 The lowest air pressure is at the

eye of a tropical cyclone
At the eye of a tropical cyclone,
wind speed is low.
At the eyewall, the wind speed is
great.
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.

PUBLIC STORM
WARNING SIGNALS

PSWS # 1
METEOROLOGICAL
CONDITIONS:
A tropical cyclone will
affect the locality.
Winds of 30-60 kph may
be expected in at least
36 hours or intermittent
rains may be expected
within 36 hours.

WHAT TO DO:
Inspect your house if necessary repair/fixing is
needed.
Clean up drainage system.
Harvest crops that can be yielded.
Monitor the latest Severe Weather Bulletin issued

PSWS # 1
IMPACT OF THE
WINDS:
Twigs and branches of
small trees may be
broken.
Some banana plants
may be tilted or downed.
Some houses of very
light materials (nipa and
Unless this warning signal iscogon)
upgraded
the
mayduring
be partially
entire existence of the tropical
cyclone, only very light
unroofed.
or no damage at all may be sustained by the exposed
communities.
Rice crop, however, may suffer significant damage
when it is in its flowering stage.

PSWS # 1
PRECAUTIONARY
MEASURES:
When the tropical
cyclone is strong or is
intensifying and is
moving closer, this
signal may be upgraded
to the next higher level.
The waves on coastal
waters may gradually
develop and become
The people are advised to listen
to and
the latest
bigger
higher.severe
weather bulletin issued by PAGASA every six hours. In
the meantime, business may be carried out as usual
except when flood occur.
Disaster preparedness is activated to alert status.

PSWS # 2
METEOROLOGICAL
CONDITIONS:
A tropical cyclone will
affect the the locality.
Winds of greater than 60
kph and up to 100 kph
may be expected in at
least 24 hours.

WHAT TO DO:
Prepare flashlights, batteries , matches, kerosene
lamps, or candles and charcoal in anticipation of
power failure, first aid kit and store ready to eat foods.
Keep your cell phones fully charged.
Elevate household things in case of flooding.
For fishing folks, secure fishing boats in safe area.

PSWS # 2
IMPACT OF THE
WINDS:
Some coconut trees may
be tilted with few others
broken.
Few big trees may be
uprooted.
Many banana plants
may be downed.
Rice and
corn
may
Large number of nipa and cogon
houses
may
bebe
partially or totally unroofed. adversely affected.
Some old galvanized iron roofings may be peeled off.
In general, the winds may bring light to moderate
damage to the exposed communities.

PSWS # 2
PRECAUTIONARY
MEASURES:
The sea and coastal waters
are dangerous to small
seacrafts
Special attention should be
given to the latest position,
the direction and speed of
movement and the
intensity
the storm
it
The general public especially
peopleof
travelling
byas
sea
mayunnecessary
intensify andrisks.
move
and air are cautioned to avoid
towards
Outdoor activities of children
shouldthe
be locality.
postponed.
Secure properties before the signal is upgraded.
Disaster preparedness agencies / organizations are in
action to alert their communities.

PSWS # 3
METEOROLOGICAL
CONDITIONS:
A tropical cyclone will
affect the locality.
Winds of greater than 100
kph up to 185 kph may be
expected in at least 18
hours.

PSWS # 3
WHAT TO DO:
If the house is not strong
enough to withstand the
battering of strong winds
go to designated
evacuation center aor seek
shelter in stronger houses.
Stay in safe houses until
after the disturbances has
Evacuate from low-lying area
reiverbanks and
left and
the area.
stay away from coastal areas
for possible flooding
and strom surge.
All travel and outdoor activities should be cancelled.
Watch out for the passage of the "Eye Wall and the
"Eye" of the typhoon.

PSWS # 3
IMPACT OF THE WINDS:
Many coconut trees may
be broken or destroyed.
Almost all banana plants
may be downed and a
large number of trees may
be uprooted.
Rice and corn crops may
heavy
Majority of all nipa and cogonsuffer
houses
maylosses.
be unroofed
considerable damage to
or destroyed and there may be
structures of light to medium construction.
There may be widespread disruption of electrical power
and communication services.
In general, moderate to heavy damage may be
experienced, particularly in the agricultural and

PSWS # 3
PRECAUTIONARY
MEASURES:
The disturbance is
dangerous to the
communities
threatened/affected.
The sea and coastal waters
will be very dangerous to
all seacrafts.
Travel in
is strong
very risky
People are advised to seek shelter
buildings,
by sea
and
evacuate low-lying areas andespecially
to stay away
from
theair.

coasts and river banks.

Watch out for the passage of the "eye" of the typhoon
indicated by a sudden occurrence of fair weather
immediately after very bad weather with very strong

PSWS # 3
When the "eye" of the
typhoon hit the community
do not venture away from
the safe shelter because
after one to two hours the
worst weather will resume
with the very strong winds
coming from the south.

Classes in all levels should be suspended and children

should stay in the safety of strong buildings.
Disaster preparedness and response
agencies/organizations are in action with appropriate
response to actual emergency.

PSWS # 4
METEOROLOGICAL
CONDITIONS:
A very intense typhoon will
affect the locality.
Very strong winds of more
than 185 kph may be
expected in at least 12
hours.

PSWS # 4
WHAT TO DO:
If the house is not strong
enough to withstand the
battering of strong winds
go to designated
evacuation center aor seek
shelter in stronger houses.

Stay in safe houses until after the disturbances has left

the area.
Evacuate from low-lying area and reiverbanks and stay
away
fromand
coastal
areas
for possible
flooding
and strom
All travel
outdoor
activities
should
be cancelled.
surge.
Watch out for the passage of the "Eye Wall and the
"Eye" of the typhoon.

PSWS # 4
IMPACT OF THE WINDS:
Coconut plantation may
suffer extensive damage.
Many large trees may be
uprooted.
Rice and corn plantation
may suffer severe losses.

Most residential and institutional buildings of

mixed construction may be severely damaged.
Electrical power distribution and communication
services may be severely disrupted.
In the overall, damage to affected communities
can be very heavy.

PSWS # 4
PRECAUTIONARY
MEASURES:
The situation is potentially
very destructive to the
community.
All travels and outdoor
activities should be
cancelled.
Evacuation to safer
shelters should have been
With PSWS #4, the localitycompleted
is very likely
to be
hit be
since
it may
directly by the eye of the typhoon.
As thethis
eye of
too late under
the typhoon approaches, the
weather will
situation.
continuously worsen with the
winds increasing to
its strongest coming generally from the north.

PSWS # 4
Then a sudden
improvement of the
weather with light winds (a
lull) will be experienced.
This means that the eye of
the typhoon is over the
locality. This improved
weather may last for one
to two hours depending on
the diameter of the eye
As the eye moves out of the
locality,
the worst
and
the speed
of
weather experienced before
the lull will suddenly
movement.
commence. This time the very strong winds will
come generally from the south.

PSWS # 4
The disaster coordinating
councils concerned and
other disaster response
organizations are now fully
responding to emergencies
and in full readiness to
immediately respond to
possible calamity.