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The presence of two weather systems will bring cloudy skies to its affected areas.

The tail end of a cold front is an area in the atmosphere where cold and warm air masses meet. The interaction between the two different air masses creates cloud and thunderstorms activity that usually results to rain showers, PAGASA weather forecaster Buddy Javier explained. This weather system affects Southern Luzon, bringing light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms over Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, Marinduque, Romblon, Aurora and Quezon.

Nov. 14

Meanwhile, colder weather will prevail due to the existence of hangin amihan or northeast monsoon at the Northern and Central Luzon. Aside from lower temperature, hangin amihan is expected to bring isolated light rains over Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Ilocos Region and the rest of Central Luzon.

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Lower temperatures are now felt in some areas in Luzon. Buddy says hangin amihan will eventually prevail over Visayas in the next coming months.
Yesterday, temperature in Baguio dropped to 13.4 °C.

Due to the surge of hanging amihan, gale warning has been issued by PAGASA. The seacoasts of Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Cagayan, northern coast of Ilocos Norte, Isabela and Aurora will be rough to very rough resulting to 3.4 to 4.5 meters wave height. Fishing boats and other small sea vessels are advised not to venture out into the sea.

Cover. Duck. Hold.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) will hold the 4th Quarter National Simultaneous Earthquake Drill today, 9 am at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City as ceremonial pilot venue. Government agencies and private sectors nationwide are encouraged to participate in the earthquake drill.

EARTHQUAKE DRILL 14

Natural disasters, particularly typhoons, have earned special attention and mention throughout our nation’s history because of the devastation they leave behind, causing immense losses to infrastructure, agriculture and human lives.

This year alone, several typhoons have left their mark on the public consciousness, including Tropical Storm Fung-Wong (local name: Mario), which caused severe flooding in Greater Luzon, including Metro Manila, affecting more than 118 thousand families.

Tropical Storm Fung-Wong (local name: Mario) Photo credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong (local name: Mario)
Photo credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Meanwhile, Typhoon Rammasun (local name:Glenda) crossed Southern Luzon in July with maximum winds of 150 kilometers per hour. It made its landfall in Albay, claiming more than one billion pesos worth of infrastructure and more than six billion pesos worth of agricultural products and facilities.

Typhoon Rammasun (local name: Glenda) Photo credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Typhoon Rammasun (local name: Glenda)
Photo credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Luckily in October, when Super Typhoon Vongfong (local name: Ompong), tagged as the strongest typhoon that entered Philippine Area of Responsibility this year, packing maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour, it kept its distance from the country as it moved outside our boundary. Though Vongfong did not do damage to the Philippines, Japan was not able to evade the rage of the super typhoon. 31 people were injured, 90,000 households in Okinawa had to evacuate, and more than 400 flights were cancelled. It also knocked out power supply in Okinawa.

Super Typhoon Vongfong (local name: Ompong) Photo credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Super Typhoon Vongfong (local name: Ompong)
Photo credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

It seems that the names of the tropical cyclones are as unique as their characteristics and effects on the areas they have gone through. In the Philippines, PAGASA has a ready list of Filipino names for tropical cyclones.

Just as local names are important for easy communication among PAGASA, the media and the public, so are international names since these weather disturbances can affect more than one country. Through constant correspondence with other nations, we can gauge the cyclone’s track and projected effects—an important tool in increasing preparedness on both national and community levels.

How the naming process began

The areas where tropical cyclones are formed are divided into seven basins: North Atlantic Ocean, Northeastern and Northwestern Pacific Ocean (where the Philippines is located), Southwestern and Southeastern Indian Ocean, North Indian Ocean and Southwest Pacific Ocean.

Photo credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Photo credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Australian forecaster Clement Wragge introduced the use of proper names in naming cyclones in the late 19th century. When the Australian national government failed to establish the federal weather bureau and appoint Wragge as director, the forecaster took matters in his own hands and started naming cyclones after political figures whom he disliked and described as “causing great distress and wandering aimlessly about the Pacific.”

It took 40 years before the idea inspired George Stewart, a junior meteorologist in the United States to name Pacific tropical storms after his former girlfriends in his 1941 novel “Storm.”

It was in 1945 when the US armed services formally embraced the practice of using women’s names for typhoons in the Western Pacific. Eight years later, the US Weather Bureau finally adopted the use of women’s names for cyclones in the Northwest Pacific basin. It was in 1979 when men’s names were used.

Meanwhile, cyclones in the Southwest Indian Ocean started using names during the 1960s, while the North Indian Ocean cyclones were formally named in 2006.

According to the Weather Philippines Foundation, a new list of Asian names was contributed by all member nations of the World Meteorological Organization‘s (WMO) Typhoon Committee in January 1, 2000. These names are allocated to developing tropical storms by the Tokyo Typhoon Center of the Japan Meteorological Agency, and are arranged in alphabetical order of contributing countries. The majority of names includes flowers, animals, birds, trees, food and adjectives.

Currently, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Typhoon Committee (ESCAP/WMO), which promotes the order and implementation of procedures required for minimizing the losses caused by typhoons, has 14 members: Cambodia; China; Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Macao, China; Malaysia; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and the United States of America.

Regardless of the year, international names are used per column. Below are the lists of names for developing tropical cyclones in the Northwest Pacific basin within a six-year time frame.

Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)

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Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)

Retiring of Names

Tropical cyclone names are retired if they have caused significant damage and casualties in an area. A new list of names is discussed during the annual meeting of the WMO’s regional committee.

Sources: Weather Philippines Foundation | PAGASA | JMA | ESCAP/WMO | NOAA | NASA | Official Gazette of the Philippines | Japan NHK

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Aside from the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that shook Bohol last year, who could not forget Yolanda? Let’s look back on how it affected the country and how Filipinos unite in rising from the disaster.

Not an Ordinary Typhoon

Based on the climatological records of PAGASA, tropical cyclones that enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) during the month of November have higher chance of hitting the landmass; proven to be right when Yolanda traversed the country. Since the typhoon originated from the Pacific Ocean, Yolanda has gained so much strength as it headed towards the Philippines.

Yolanda, with an international name Haiyan, did not fail in taking a spot in the world’s most disastrous typhoons. Packing winds of up to 235 kilometers per hour and gustiness reaching 270 kilometers per hour, it ruined the country particularly the region of Visayas.

Within a day, six landfall activities were recorded by the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). On November 8, 2013, Yolanda hit the following areas:

– Guiuan, Eastern Samar
– Tolosa, Leyte
– Daanbantayan, Cebu
– Bantayan Island, Cebu
– Concepcion, IloIlo
– Busuanga, Palawan

The Wrath of Yolanda

Yolanda exited the PAR on November 9, 2013, leaving a horrific view of Leyte and Samar. Aside from the flash floods and landslides, the intense winds of the typhoon triggered storm surges that devoured Leyte especially the city of Tacloban. Some Taclobanons said it was like the entire sea crawled over the land.

At least 6,000 people were reported dead while more than a thousand persons are still missing. More than 3 thousand families were affected on Regions IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, X, XI and CARAGA. The combined power of water and winds smashed almost 1.2 million houses.

Image

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has also recorded a total of almost 90 billion pesos cost of damage from Typhoon Yolanda. By virtue of Proclamation No.682, a state of national calamity was declared on November 11, 2013.

PanahonTV Special Report | Bakas ni Yolanda Part 1

Recovery and Rehabilitation

From the Barangay Captains to the officers of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), assessment operations and immediate response were done. It was a tough responsibility as they have experienced the rage of Yolanda themselves. Dead bodies, debris, uprooted trees and displaced electrical posts blanketed the streets after the passage of the powerful typhoon.

Thirst and hunger – these were the primary concerns of the survivors that time. People were begging for food and water. It seemed that Yolanda has left nothing but misery.

But like the pouring rain, many organizations whether local or international, began to offer help and assistance for the affected families. Relief goods and other necessities came and gradually relieved the situation.

December 3 last year, the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (PARR) was assigned to monitor Yolanda Reconstruction and Rehabilitation. The fund amounting to P167 billion pesos was allocated for the four primary rehabilitation areas: infrastructure, social services, resettlement and livelihood.

Recently on October 29, 2014, the comprehensive rehabilitation and recovery plan (CRRP) for the survivors of Yolanda was already approved by President Benigno Aquino III. This means a faster process of restoration through programs, plans and activities for the Yolanda-hit areas.

PanahonTV Special Report | Bakas ni Yolanda Part 2

Tacloban after a Year

Panahon TV team visited Tacloban to see how our Kababayans continue their lives after the massive destruction brought by Yolanda. We have witnessed an improvement compared to its state months after the onslaught of the typhoon.

A year after, many businesses re-operated, mass graves are more organized, trees have grown and the electricity and communication networks were re-connected. The classes resumed inside the temporary classrooms and tents donated by the international NGOs. While education is the key to a man’s success, preparedness is his key for survival. Teachers have begun integrating disaster preparedness in their curriculum.

Bunk houses and transitional shelters were also built for the affected families before they are transferred to the permanent houses. Residents regularly undergo debriefing activities and drills for natural disasters.

Aside from the structural improvement of the city, there’s more interesting in what we have observed – the optimistic attitude of the survivors. The smiles on their faces, the hope in their hearts and the undying faith in God will never be washed out by waves or carried away by strong winds. Tindog, Tacloban!

PanahonTV Special Report | Bakas ni Yolanda Part 3

Amor Larrosa is a Weather Reporter of Panahon.TV, aired daily at 5:00AM on the People’s Television (PTV). She goes by the title of Weather Lover and believes that “Ang taong handa at mahinahon, kayang lagpasan ang hamon ng panahon.” Follow her on Twitter.

Photo credit: JV Noriega
Photo credit: JV Noriega

Throughout history, mankind has been fascinated with the Moon. In the field of arts alone, the Moon is a constant inspiration, sparking the creation of poems and fantasy stories, love songs, and mythology.

Its symbolism is as rich and varied as its phases—a howling wolf’s shadow cast against a looming full Moon heralds terror, while a sliver of a Moon against a backdrop of brilliant stars spells romance.
But the ultimate proof of our lunar enchantment was when the United States ambitiously sent humans on a mission all the way to the Moon. On July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin held the honor and distinction of being the first men to walk on the Moon.

To the Moon and Back

The Moon is the sole natural satellite of our planet. Second to the sun, it is the brightest thing in our sky. With its diameter of almost 3,500 kilometers, the Moon rotates in time with the Earth, facing our planet with always the same side of its surface, filled with craters and dark plains formed by prehistoric volcanic eruptions.

Once a month, it orbits around the Earth, altering the angle between our planet, the Moon and the Sun. Visually, this translates into the cycle of the Moon’s phases.

Phases of the Moon

In local mythology, the most popular Moon-related figure is Bakunawa, the god of the underworld that comes in the form of a winged giant sea serpent. When a lunar eclipse occurs, Bakunawa is said to have swallowed the Moon with its humongous mouth, the size of a lake. To prevent the creature from devouring the satellite, townsfolk would bang their pots and pans beneath the night sky to scare Bakunawa into spitting out the Moon.

Mad about the Moon

It’s scientifically proven that the Moon affects our planet through the gravitational pull between them. From the vantage point of the Earth’s surface, one can see two bulges created mostly by our oceans (and a bit of the earth’s crust)—the outward bulge in areas nearest to the Moon, and the inward one in areas farthest from the satellite. This is how the Moon generally affects ocean tides.

Still, some believe that the Moon’s influence extends beyond pulling on the ocean’s surface. In connection with how the word lunatic got its name (from the Latin word luna, which means Moon), there are groups that argue that the Moon, particularly its full phase, causes behavioral changes in humans. This is based on the reason that since our bodies are 75% water, the Moon’s gravitational forces also hold influence over us.
Everything from suicides, births, epileptic and heart attacks, to crimes and injuries are said to be Moon-related. But according to livescience.com, there are no conclusive studies that indicate a definite link between such occurrences and the Moon. It even suggests that when strange events happen during the Full Moon, people tend to pay special attention to them, chalking them up to this particular lunar phase. But when the same events occur during the other Moon- phases, they are dismissed or forgotten.

A Salute to the Moon

Photo credit: Heinz Orais
Photo credit: Heinz Orais

In Hatha Yoga, which emphasizes the physical practice of yoga, the Sun represents masculine impulses, shown in sweat-inducing, active yoga poses called asanas.

Meanwhile, the Moon symbolizes our cooler, feminine side—the primary focus of the Moon Salutation or Chandra Namaskara, a fifteen-step sequence that is both gentle and introspective. Here are the slow, mindful steps to achieve the yoga sequence:
1. Stand tall and allow your jaw to relax. Maintain a soft gaze while picturing the Full Moon in your mouth like a soft, soothing lozenge. Allow the sensation of the Moon to drift towards the back of your head and hold it there.
2. Slowly inhale while raising arms overhead.
3. During a long exhalation, gently touch your brow center, heart center then finally fold forward, your palms touching the ground. Step back your left foot and drop your left knee to the ground.
4. Bend your right leg into a forward lunge and raise your arms while inhaling, palms in prayer position overhead.
5. Slowly exhale while lowering your arms, touching your brow center, heart center then the ground. Step back into downward-facing dog pose.
6. Inhale and drop both knees on the floor into table pose. Look up.
7. Exhale and go into child’s pose.
8. Inhale, go up onto your knees, lift your hips and spread your arms. While looking up, allow yourself to be filled with gratitude.
9. Exhale. After bringing your palms in prayer position overhead, touch the back of your neck with your thumbs. Settle back on your heels. Bring your chest toward your thighs and elbows on the floor. Extend arms in front of you and press palms on the ground.
10. Inhale and slide your chest forward, going into upward-facing dog.
11. Exhale and go into downward-facing dog. Bring your left foot between your palms and drop your right knee.
12. Bend your left knee while inhaling and raise your arms in prayer position overhead.
13. Exhale and touch your brow center, heart center. Step your right foot in front of you and fold forward.
14. Inhale and stand up tall. Raise your arms and press palms overhead to salute the Moon.
15. Exhale, allow your palms to touch your brow center, and let them end in prayer position over your heart center.
Upon finishing the sequence, close your eyes and picture the Full Moon resting at the back of your mind. Let its brightness fill your mind, its beam reflecting out through the point between your eyebrows. This sequence aims to calm, and is said to be safe for women undergoing menstruation and pregnancy.
In another yoga system called Ashtanga, asanas are not practiced during the New and Full Moon days. Practitioners believe that these days are “dangerous” because the Sun and Moon’s combined gravitational forces are on an all-time high, creating conflict. Yogis welcome these days to rest from doing their asanas.

The Trending Moon

The Moon has even gone as far as shaping fashion. According to skwirk.com, the first Moon landing influenced 1960s fashion, inspiring designers to use new and exciting materials such as plastic, vinyl and even PVC, a type of resin used in manufacturing garden hoses and floor tiles. Just imagine the creations crafted from these materials!

Fast-forward to today and the Moon is still making waves in the fashion industry, this time, in high-end watches. These days, watches don’t just tell the time, they’re also beefed up with other features that show different time zones and—you guessed it—Moon-phases.
These complications are usually a hit with women, the Moon-phase feature appealing to their eye for beauty.

Audemars Piguet Moon-phase, encased in 18-carat pink gold, indicates the day and current phase of the Moon. (image from watchalyzer.com)
Audemars Piguet Moon-phase, encased in 18-carat pink gold, indicates the day and current phase of the Moon.
(image from watchalyzer.com)

Meanwhile, Maurice Lacroix, a luxury brand of Swiss watches, boasts of pioneering Moon-phase watches in the 1980s—the reason for which was that some of the company’s clients based decisions on whether the Moon is full, waning or waxing.

Its modern version displays not only the Moon-phase, but also the day, the month, and of course, the time. Timepiece connoisseurs are sure to appreciate its built-in jewels such as sapphire crystal and silver gold.

The Masterpiece Phases de Lune showcases the silver Moon against the deep-blue night sky. (image from hodinkee.com)
The Masterpiece Phases de Lune showcases the silver Moon against the deep-blue night sky.
(image from hodinkee.com)

So the next time you find yourself gazing at the Moon, take a moment and marvel at how this celestial body has shaped our culture, and continues to inspire us in ways both whimsical and scientific.
And if the Big Cheese could tell you how it feels about all this attention, it would probably say that it’s simply over the Moon about it.

Sources: Yogainternational.com, Joyisyoga.com, Nytimes.com, Mauricelacroix.com, Pinoy-culture.tumblr.com

Yolanda in the eye of PAGASA: Delubyo

Along Arnaldo blvd, Roxas City, Photo Taken around 3:45 PM Nov. 8, 2013
Along Arnaldo blvd, Roxas City, Photo Taken around 3:45 PM Nov. 8, 2013

Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) greatly devastated Eastern Visayas particularly the provinces of Tacloban, Leyte the Super Typhoon that claimed more than six thousand lives.

In a press conference held at PAGASA, one from the media asked the officials of the weather bureau if they are to describe in one word the typhoon, what would it be. Mr. Robert Sawi, OIC of Weather Division answered “delubyo”.

PAGASA, the official state weather bureau were tasked to monitor and gauge the possible threat of Yolanda.

Chronology of Events

November 01 2013: Typhoon Yolanda was first spotted as Low Pressure Area (LPA) over Caroline Island.

November 02 2013: the LPA has developed into Tropical Depression.

November 04 2013: It has intensified into Tropical Storm and was given an international name “Haiyan”.

November 06 2013: Though outside Philippine Area of Responisibility (PAR), PAGASA has included the typhoon in the 5am weather bulletin having a maximum sustained winds 120-kph near the center and gustiness of up to 150-kph with forecast movement speed of 30-kph westward.

November 07 2013: Press Conference and press briefings are done every six hours. PAGASA also provided hourly update regarding the location and intensity of Typhoon Yolanda.

November 08 2013: An auxiliary bulletin was issued at 2AM to include other areas in Central Visayas and Southern Luzon under Public Storm Warning Signal #4 due to acceleration of Yolanda.

At 4:40 AM, Yolanda has made landfall over Guiuan, Eastern Samar and at 11 PM, Yolanda exits the landmass of Northern Palawan after crossing Central Visayas and Southern Luzon.

November 09 2013: Public Storm Warning Signal #3 and #4 were lowered and final bulletin was issued at 3:30 PM as Typhoon Yolanda exit PAR.

According to the weather bureau, Typhoon Yolanda is the 24th tropical cyclone that entered PAR last year. The cloud bond of the typhoon is expanded up to 600 kilometer in diameter and it has made six landfalls.

SIX_LANDFALL

* Guiuan, Eastern Samar
* Tolosa, Leyte
* Daan, Bantayan Cebu
* Bantayan Island, Cebu
* Concepcion, Iloilo
* Busuanga, Palawan

Basing on the forecast and actual track of Yolanda, PAGASA has nearly made accurate information.

Source: PAGASA
Source: PAGASA

While typhoon Yolanda traverses the landmass of Visayas and Southern Luzon, the PAGASA stations have recorded different wind strength and gustiness.

Source: PAGASA
Source: PAGASA

In terms of rainfall, prior to the land falling Leyte has received 31 to 150 millimeters of rain in 24-hour period on November 7. While Leyte has only received 31 to 60 millimeters of rain in the same period of time during the passage of typhoon across the landmass on November 8. PAGASA weather forecaster Chris Perez explained, strong winds is one factor why lesser amount of rains were experienced during the passage of Yolanda across the landmass.

Source: PAGASA
Source: PAGASA

Communication is the Key

When typhoon Yolanda was monitored and still outside PAR, a series of meeting was held by PAGASA with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and Local Government Units (LGU’s). Hourly update and forecast position were discussed during the meeting. Storm surges of five to seven meters has been emphasized during the discussion and was expected to over the coastal areas of Surigao, Dinagat, Samar and Leyte, Sorsogon, Masbate and Northern Cebu.

Information from PAGASA was directly forwarded to Office of the President, Office of Civil Defense, PAGASA Regional Centers and National Media until it reaches the general public.

President Benigno Aquino III has formally announced on national television the danger of Yolanda, and even the hazard of storm surges was also mentioned.

communication_chart

Yolanda became our greatest teacher

Super typhoon Yolanda has been a great challenge to PAGASA. This paved way for a more keen approached in terms of weather forecasting.

Aside from releasing Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS) along with its written impact, PAGASA is now looking into adding information such as the different impacts brought by storm surges.

The weather bureau will now also provide a 5 day forecast track instead of 3 day forecast track to NDRRMC for close monitoring of weather disturbances, and a series of press conference are being held for fast dissemination of information.

JESY BASCO is an Advocate of Responsible Media and a Weather Reporter at Panahon TV, aired daily at 5:00 AM on the People’s Television (PTV).

It came and went like scenes in a post-apocalyptic movie.

Damaged infrastructures. Destroyed homes. Roads and bridges impassable. Barangays inundated with water. No food to eat. No water to drink. No electricity to light the way in search of the missing ones. No medicine to counter the sickness setting in. No way of communicating to call for rescue. It was chaos all around and looting became the answer to the survivors left in its wake.

A year has gone since the world has born witness to the devastation typhoon Haiyan had wrought as it laid untold number of lives in the Philippines. Locally known as bagyong Yolanda, it was the 23rd tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) dating November 6-9, 2013

Government recorded casualties reaching up to more than 6,000 identified dead and a thousand more missing even as a year has passed as Haiyan plowed through the islands in central Visayas, affecting 44 provinces out of the country’s 81.

With record breaking winds, this has been cited as one of the deadliest and most historic cyclones in history, directly hitting Tacloban City with its full intensity, bringing enormous devastation to lands and lives in the country.

TYPHOON VS HURRICANE

Before you get yourself confused, let’s set things straight by defining the terms ‘typhoon’, ‘hurricane’, and ‘cyclone’.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these words are all the same weather phenomenon, just different names used depending on where they occur:

Weather Phenomenon

This weather disturbance is associated with heavy rains, strong winds, possible flooding and landslides as well as storm surges along coastal areas.

IN WORLD HISTORY

Countless articles online have consistently detailed the destruction Haiyan left, describing it one of the strongest cyclones in world history.

According to Jeff Masters, Director of Meteorology at Weather Underground, Haiyan may be the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall, however, in terms of wind speed, it unofficially ranks as the fourth strongest tropical cyclone recorded.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimates Haiyan’s maximum sustained winds at 315 kph and gustiness of up to 378 kph – an equivalent of a category 5 hurricane.

Experts say it is very rare for a tropical cyclone to cross over a landmass at its peak intensity. Haiyan did just that, making it the most powerful typhoon to hit land in history.

tYPHOON Haiyan

A storm surge is defined as an abnormal rise of sea water brought about by a severe storm or a typhoon with strong winds. In an archipelagic country like the Philippines, majority of the population live on coastal areas making them prone to storm surges which has the ability engulf low lying communities and bring massive destruction to lands and lives.

Much of the city and nearby settlements are low lying, sitting less than 16 feet above sea level that when Yolanda passes, it generated a storm surge in its wake, washing away barangays and leaving towns in shambles.

Infrastructures near the coast line were leveled by the storm surge. Homes were completely destroyed. Neighborhoods inundated with water. That when Haiyan left, and the surge has passed, it resulted to a grim scene of dead bodies in the water, in the streets forever caught on tape, in photos and in our memories.

A TIMELINE: FROM MICRONESIA TO CHINA

Going down history as one of the most catastrophic typhoons in the world, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) records show Haiyan had a lifetime of 174 hours or roughly 7.250 days.

[insert typhoon Haiyan track from Micronesia to China]

NOV 2 – JTWC begins to monitor a low pressure area (LPA) east of one of the states in Micronesia.

NOV 3 – JMA classifies the low into a tropical depression.

NOV4 – the name ‘Haiyan’ was assigned as it further intensified into tropical storm category.

NOV 5 – Haiyan, achieving typhoon status, forms an eye.

NOV 6 – JTWC estimates Haiyan into super typhoon status or equivalent to Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
– It passed over the island of Kayangel in Palau.
– PAGASA gives local name of ‘Yolanda’ as it approaches the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR)

NOV 7 – Yolanda enters PAR, prompting PAGASA to issue public storm warning signal #4 in the country on the path of the typhoon.

NOV 8 – Yolanda makes landfall, battering provinces in central Visayas
(Insert infogfx of landfall points)

NOV 9 – Yolanda exits PAR through the West Philippine Sea heading towards Vietnam and southern China.
– Haiyan gradually weakens as cool air joins the circulation.

NOV 10. – Crossing over the Gulf of Tonkin, Haiyan further weakens due to interaction with Hainan Island and Vietnam.
– Haiyan made landfall in Haiphong as a severe tropical storm.

NOV 11. – Haiyan dissipates as it moved Guangxi province in China.

THE WORLD UNITES

The world has monitored – on TV, on the radio, on the internet – as Haiyan lived its course from Micronesia to China. Though we had been warned of its possible impact, it had not been enough to minimize the damages it might have wrought.

It had been a difficult situation to start the rescue and relief operations towards those in the path of the typhoon especially in the remote communities isolated by debris and circumstances.

Appealing to the international community for assistance, the Philippines receive an influx of foreign assistance and aid coming from different countries, organizations and people of goodwill around the world reaching out to the Filipinos.

TYPHOON HAIYAN: A YEAR AFTER

It came and went like scenes in a post-apocalyptic movie.

Damaged infrastructures. Destroyed homes. Roads and bridges impassable. Barangays inundated with water. No food to eat. No water to drink. No electricity to light the way in search of the missing ones. No medicine to counter the sickness setting in. No way of communicating to call for rescue. Looting became the answer to the survivors left in its wake.

A year has gone since the world has born witness to the devastation typhoon Haiyan had wrought as it laid untold number of lives in the Philippines. Locally known as bagyong Yolanda, it was the 23rd tropical cyclone to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) dating November 6-9, 2013

Government record casualties reaching up to more than 6,000 identified dead and a thousand more missing even as a year has passed as Haiyan plowed through the islands in central Visayas, affecting 44 provinces out of the country’s 81.

With record breaking winds, this has been cited as one of the deadliest and most historic cyclones in history, directly hitting Tacloban City with its full intensity, bringing enormous devastation to lands and lives in the country.

TYPHOON VS HURRICANE

Before you get yourself confused, let’s set things straight by defining the terms ‘typhoon’, ‘hurricane’, and ‘cyclone’.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), these words are all the same weather phenomenon, just different names used depending on where they occur:

Weather Phenomenon

This weather disturbance is associated with heavy rains, strong winds, possible flooding and landslides as well as storm surges along coastal areas.

IN WORLD HISTORY

Countless articles online have consistently detailed the destruction Haiyan left, describing it one of the strongest cyclones in world history.

According to Jeff Masters, Director of Meteorology at Weather Underground, Haiyan may be the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall, however, in terms of wind speed, it unofficially ranks as the fourth strongest tropical cyclone recorded.

tYPHOON Haiyan

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimates Haiyan’s maximum sustained winds at 315 kph and gustiness of up to 378 kph – an equivalent of a category 5 hurricane.

Experts say it is very rare for a tropical cyclone to cross over a landmass at its peak intensity. Haiyan did just that, making it the most powerful typhoon to hit land in history.

PAGASA actual vs forecast track image
PAGASA actual vs forecast track image

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has closely monitored the movement of typhoon Yolanda resulting to accurate prediction of its track. Bulletins, advisories, and various updates through SMS, and social media platforms has been implemented by the weather bureau even before it threatened the country.

Regardless of the measures taken by the government to lessen the damage, the Philippines had not been anywhere close to being prepared for what actually Haiyan brought.

A DEADLY STORM SURGE

Yolanda, bringing a deluge of torrential rains, gusty winds and a 7-foot storm surge, left entire towns in ruin, drowning thousands of Filipinos in Tacloban City which caught the full force of the typhoon.

Source: PAGASA
Source: PAGASA

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Yolanda’s Landfall- Island Facts

A storm surge is defined as an abnormal rise of sea water brought about by a severe storm or a typhoon with strong winds. In an archipelagic country like the Philippines, majority of the population live on coastal areas making them prone to storm surges which has the ability engulf low lying communities and bring massive destruction to lands and lives.

Much of the city and nearby settlements are low lying, sitting less than 16 feet above sea level that when Yolanda passes, it generated a storm surge in its wake, washing away barangays and leaving towns in shambles.

Infrastructures near the coast line were leveled by the storm surge. Homes were completely destroyed. Neighborhoods inundated with water. That when Haiyan left, and the surge has passed, it resulted to a grim scene of dead bodies in the water, in the streets forever caught on tape, in photos and in our memories.

A TIMELINE: FROM MICRONESIA TO CHINA

Going down history as one of the most catastrophic typhoons in the world, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) records show Haiyan had a lifetime of 174 hours or roughly 7.250 days.

[insert typhoon Haiyan track from Micronesia to China]

NOV 2 – JTWC begins to monitor a low pressure area (LPA) east of one of the states in Micronesia.

NOV 3 – JMA classifies the low into a tropical depression.

NOV4 – the name ‘Haiyan’ was assigned as it further intensified into tropical storm category.

NOV 5 – Haiyan, achieving typhoon status, forms an eye.

NOV 6 – JTWC estimates Haiyan into super typhoon status or equivalent to Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
– It passed over the island of Kayangel in Palau.
– PAGASA gives local name of ‘Yolanda’ as it approaches the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR)

NOV 7 – Yolanda enters PAR, prompting PAGASA to issue public storm warning signal #4 in the country on the path of the typhoon.

NOV 8 – Yolanda makes landfall, battering provinces in central Visayas
(Insert infogfx of landfall points)

NOV 9 – Yolanda exits PAR through the West Philippine Sea heading towards Vietnam and southern China.
– Haiyan gradually weakens as cool air joins the circulation.

NOV 10. – Crossing over the Gulf of Tonkin, Haiyan further weakens due to interaction with Hainan Island and Vietnam.
– Haiyan made landfall in Haiphong as a severe tropical storm.

NOV 11. – Haiyan dissipates as it moved Guangxi province in China.

THE WORLD UNITES

The world has monitored – on TV, on the radio, on the internet – as Haiyan lived its course from Micronesia to China. Though we had been warned of its possible impact, it had not been enough to minimize the damages it might have wrought.

It had been a difficult situation to start the rescue and relief operations towards those in the path of the typhoon especially in the remote communities isolated by debris and circumstances.

Appealing to the international community for assistance, the Philippines receive an influx of foreign assistance and aid coming from different countries, organizations and people of goodwill around the world reaching out to the Filipinos.

Today, no weather disturbance has been observed outside or inside our Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), PAGASA weather forecaster Alvin Pura said.

Most part of the country will have fair weather, but expect localized thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening that will bring rain showers and thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, amihan continues to prevail over Northern Luzon. Residents in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos region, possible isolated light rains will happen in your areas. Since amihan has cold and dry characteristics, thin clouds may occur in the said regions.

While Inter-tropical Convergence Zone will bring light to moderate rains over the regions of Davao and SOCCSKSARGEN. Thunderstorms activities are also present in the said areas.

Continue monitoring weather updates through Panahon TV and PAGASA.

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Super Typhoon Yolanda Anniversary

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has declared November 08, 2014 as National Day of Prayer especially for the victims and survivor of the Typhoon.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas encourages every church to ring their church bell at six o’clock in the evening followed by the solemn recitation of the commemorative prayer prepared by the CBCP.

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Last October, we met Neneng, Ompong and Paeng but thankfully, none of these tropical cyclones hit Philippine landmass. The previous month also marked the onset of the northeast monsoon or amihan, bringing chillier early mornings.

Now that we have entered a new month, here are some important things to know about November weather:

1. The rainy season will continue.

Many have wondered if the official rainy season ended now that the amihan has started to affect the country. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jori Loiz, the rainy season is almost over only in the western section including Zambales, Bataan and Metro Manila (areas under Climate Type I). These areas have received rains brought by the southwest monsoon or habagat that prevailed during the past few months.

Due to the northeast monsoon or amihan, rainfall this month will be concentrated mostly over the eastern section of the country. However, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Manny Mendoza said that most areas of Mindanao will also experience rainy weather brought by the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

According to PAGASA, most areas in Luzon and Visayas will receive a generally below-normal rainfall while near-normal rainfall conditions will be experienced in Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Albay, Eastern and Central Visayas, and Mindanao.

Photo of the Monthly Rainfall Forecast from PAGASA
Photo of the Monthly Rainfall Forecast from PAGASA

2. Tropical cyclones will have a higher chance of hitting landmass.

An average of two or three tropical cyclones normally enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) during the month of November. A higher chance of landfall is expected due to the effect of the amihan.

According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio, Visayas provinces are usually hit by tropical cyclones at this time because the amihan tends to drive the tropical cyclones towards the landmass.

track

3. Various weather systems will take center stage.

The dominant weather systems that will prevail within PAR are the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), tail end of a cold front, amihan, possible low pressure area and tropical cyclones.

ITCZ is an area where air masses from the northern and southern hemispheres meet while the tail end of a cold front is the convergence of cold and warm air masses. Since converging winds result to cloudiness, both weather systems are expected to bring rain showers and thunderstorms over the affected areas.

Northeast Monsoon, on the other hand, is cold and dry air coming from the mainland China, responsible for the “malamig na simoy ng hangin” as the Christmas Season approaches.

Meanwhile, a possible formation of low pressure area could occur due to the active ITCZ. Once an LPA develops, it could intensify as a tropical cyclone or ”bagyo”.

PanahonTV_November Dominant Weather Systems