As we begin the countdown to ending another year, we take a look at the weather events that made 2014 memorable, weather-wise.
Situation: Tropical Cyclones
This year, a total of 19 tropical cyclones entered the PAR (Philippine Area of Responsibility).
The first was Agaton, which made its entry last January 17. Though it was identified as a Tropical Depression, the lowest category for cyclones, Agaton caused severe flooding in Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and the CARAGA region.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), 244,344 families were affected in more than a thousand villages in 16 provinces. There were at least 1,147 houses destroyed and more than one thousand partially damaged. All in all, damages in infrastructure and agriculture were estimated at more than 500 million pesos.
Trending Typhoons
From the 19 tropical cyclones that entered PAR, 10 were under the Typhoon category with wind speeds of 118 to 220 kilometers per hour.
1. Domeng
2. Florita
3. Glenda
4. Henry
5. Jose
6. Luis
7. Paeng
8. Neneng
9. 0mpong
10. Ruby
From these 10 typhoons, Ompong and Ruby could be categorized as Super Typhoons.
Entering PAR on October 7 and making its exit on October 11, Ompong, with international name Vongfong, was classified by the U.S Joint Typhoon Warning Center as a Category 5 Super Typhoon.
Packing maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 250 kilometers per hour, Ompong—thankfully— did not hit the country as it re-curved towards Mainland Japan.
Related articles: Gazing into the Eye of 2014’s Strongest Typhoon
Strongest Typhoon for 2014 still inside PH
But Typhoon Ruby was totally different story. With the fitting “Hagupit” as its international name, Ruby entered the country’s boundary on December 3 and made its way out on December 11. With maximum sustained winds of 215 kilometers per hour and gustiness of 250 kilometers per hour, Ompong made five landfalls.
First landfall: Dolores, Eastern Samar
Second landfall: Cataingan, Masbate
Third landfall: Torrijos, Masbate
Fourth landfall: Laiya, Batangas
Fifth landfall: Lubang, Island
The NDRRMC filed a total of more than four million residents affected in Regions III, IV-A, IV-B, V, VI, VII, VIII, CARAGA and the National Capital Region. 18 deaths were recorded while injured persons reached up to 916. Ruby damaged mostly infrastructure and agriculture—the total cost amounting to more than 5 billion peos.
Due to its devastating impact, a state of calamity was declared in San Pablo City in Laguna, Batangas, Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Naga City, Juaban and Gubat in Sorsogon, Sorsogon City, Aklan; Maayon, Dumalag and Panay in Capiz; and Northern and Eastern Samar.
Because fatal storm surges brought by Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 made the public more aware of this weather phenomenon, Ruby kept Filipinos on their toes.
Coincidentally, while Ruby was inside PAR, an astronomical event happened. This was the Full Moon phase, which caused higher tidal variations due to our satellite’s strong gravitational pull.
Weather forecaster Chris Perez explained that higher waves were expected due to the combination of storm surge and the effects of the Full Moon.
Watch the Interview: Storm Tide
Scorching Season
PAGASA officially announced the start of the Hot and Dry season last March 26. Easterlies, the prevailing wind system during this time, brought hot and humid weather to the country.
Aside from the easterlies, this season’s indicators included the presence of the High Pressure Area (HPA), which brings good weather conditions, the termination of the northeast monsoon, and the increase in temperatures.
Upon the onset of the Hot and Dry season, the country undeniably experienced a number of scorching days that were especially evident in the Luzon area.
In March, Tuguegarao recorded a maximum temperature of 37.9 degrees Celsius. But its days got hotter in April and May, which brought in temperatures of 39 degrees and 39.8 degrees consecutively.
Meanwhile, the Science Garden in Quezon City documented a high of 36.7 degrees Celsius in May.
The Unpredictable El Niño
Within this year, the El Niño phenomenon became a hot topic during the hot season as PAGASA continued to monitor the ups and down of sea surface temperature.
From April 21 to 28, PAGASA recorded a substantial increase in the sea surface temperature anomaly from 0.2 to 0.4 degree Celsius. It was then forecast that El Niño might reach its peak in the last quarter of 2014.
But with the recent report from the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, only weak El Nino conditions were observed in November and December.
Here comes the rain!
The rainy season in the country officially started in June 10. Before declaring the onset of this season, PAGASA first made sure that the following requirements were met:
• Daily thunderstorm activity
• Prevailing southwest monsoon
• 5-day period with a total rainfall of 25 millimeters or more in three consecutive days.
Come on, Amihan!
The Amihan season was officially declared by PAGASA on October 16. The northeast monsoon or amihan is the prevailing wind system, bringing light rains to its affected areas. It also has cold and dry characteristics, resulting to colder mornings.
At this time of the year, a gradual decrease in temperatures was observed in different parts of the country.
Winter Solstice
Winter season in the northern hemisphere officially started on December 22 this year. This also signaled the start of experiencing longer nights and shorter days in the Philippines.
During the winter solstice, the northern hemisphere leans the farthest distance from the Sun, causing longer nights and lower temperatures for those in the northern hemisphere. The opposite happens in the southern hemisphere where people experience the longest day.
Related article: Winter has arrived
Although a lot has happened this year, there’s more to come this 2015. So brace yourself for those inevitable storms, but remember to keep to the sunny side of the street. With all the changes the weather brings, one thing stays the same: the Filipino brand of resilience that knows no bounds.
At 4:45 AM today, Tropical Storm Seniang made landfall over Sibonga, Cebu with maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour and gustiness of up to 80 kilometers per hour. At 7:00 AM, it made another landfall over Guihulngan, Negros Oriental and at 8:00 AM, it was located in the vicinity of La Libertad, Negros Oriental.
Public Storm Warning Signals are still up over some areas of Visayas and Mindanao.
Stormy weather will be experienced over Central Visayas and the provinces of Negros Occidental and Guimaras. The rest of Western Visayas and the provinces of Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Surigao del Norte, Agusan del Norte, Camotes Island, Zamboanga del Norte and Camihuin will have rains with gusty winds.
Bicol Region and Samar provinces will be cloudy with moderate to heavy rain showers and thunderstorms. Residents are alerted against possible flash floods and landslides. Metro Manila, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA and the rest of Mindanao will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms, while the rest of Luzon will be cloudy with light rains.
Travel for small seacraft is risky in the seaboards of Northern and Central Luzon, the eastern seaboard of Southern Luzon, Visayas and the northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.
According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Buddy Javier, Seniang’s current intensity is capable of generating ocean waves that may reach up to 5 meters. Javier added that it is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday, January 2, 2015 if it maintains its speed and direction.
Free rides on Rizal Day
Today, December 30, marks the death anniversary of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal. In line with this, LRT and MRT stations will be giving free rides for commuters. See image below for reference:
At 9:00 AM today, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issued a yellow rainfall warning over Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Quezon, Bulacan, Bataan and southern Zambales. Residents are alerted against possible flooding in low-lying areas. Meanwhile, light to moderate rains are affecting Batangas, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and the rest of Zambales which may persist for 3 hours.
A day before Christmas, two weather systems continue to prevail over the country. These include the diffused tail end of a cold front affecting Southern Luzon and the northeast monsoon or amihan affecting Northern and Central Luzon. The tail end of a cold front occurs when the cold air mass dominates the warm air mass during convergence while amihan is cold and dry air coming from Mainland China or Siberia.
Aside from these weather systems, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran said that converging winds coming from the northeast and east have formed clouds, which will dump rains over Mindanao areas.
Metro Manila, the regions of CALABARZON, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Davao, SOCCSKSARGEN, and the provinces of Mindoro, Romblon and Marinduque will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Central Luzon will have cloudy skies with light rains. Ilocos Region will be partly cloudy to cloudy with chances of isolated light rains, while the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Fishing boats and other small sea craft are still advised not to venture out into the eastern seaboards of Northern, Central and Southern Luzon, and Visayas due to the rough to very rough sea conditions brought by the surge of amihan.
LPA too far to affect PH
PAGASA has been monitoring a cloud cluster outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) which has already developed into a low pressure area (LPA). According to Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran, it is approximately more than 1,500 kilometers away from the country and is still too far to directly affect our landmass within the next 3 days. However, continuous monitoring will be done by the weather bureau.
Rains will be concentrated over Eastern Visayas and the Bicol Region where cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms are expected. These rains are brought by the diffused tail end of a cold front, a weather system that occurs when the cold air mass dominates the warm air mass during convergence. Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or amihan continues to blow through Northern and Central Luzon.
Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, and the provinces of Aurora and Quezon will have cloudy skies with light rains, while the rest of Northern and Central Luzon will experience isolated light rains. Metro Manila and the rest of the country can look forward to generally fair weather with a chance of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
For sea travelers, gale warning is up over the seaboards of Northern and Southern Luzon, and the eastern seaboards of Central Luzon. These areas will experience rough to very rough sea conditions due to the surge of amihan. Coastal waters in the rest of the country will be moderate to rough.
Amihan peaks in January
Amihan, characterized as cold and dry air blowing from mainland China or Siberia, began to affect the Philippines last October 16, 2014. However, during the ber months, it’s still not completely felt all over the country. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jori Loiz, this wind system will peak on January wherein the ocean has lower thermal capacity, which means it cannot absorb much heat. Minimum temperatures are usually recorded during this month.
The cloud cluster being monitored by PAGASA has already developed into a weather disturbance. At 4:00 AM today, the low pressure area (LPA) was estimated at 220 kilometers east of Surigao City. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Glaiza Escullar said it has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone as it moves closer to cross the southern part of Visayas and Northern Mindanao today. The LPA could dissipate within the next 24 hours.
Aside from the LPA, the tail end of a cold front, wherein the cold air mass dominates the warm air during convergence, will also affect Central Luzon. On the other hand, the northeast monsoon or amihan, characterized as cold and dry air coming from Siberia, continues to prevail over the Northern Luzon. These weather systems are expected to bring rains over some parts of the country.
Central Luzon, Eastern Visayas and CARAGA will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms. The regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos will have cloudy skies with light rains. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Due to the surge of amihan, gale warning remains over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, which include Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Cagayan, Isabela. Ilocos, La Union and Pangasinan. Fishing boats and other small seacraft are prohibited from venturing out due to the rough to very rough sea conditions.
Amihan also brings a slight temperature drop over the north. Basco, Batanes felt a chilly morning yesterday with a temperature of 15.6 degrees Celsius. Below are the lowest temperatures recorded by PAGASA yesterday, on the 15th of December.
The cloud clusters being monitored this weekend is now inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
State meteorologist Buddy Javier says in an interview with PanahonTV this morning that the said clouds have not yet developed into a low pressure area. However, continuous monitoring will be implemented as these are forecast to move closer to our landmass and bring rains in the eastern section of Visayas and Mindanao.
Today, the tail-end of a cold front will bring light to moderate rain showers in the provinces of Aurora, Quezon and Palawan. Meanwhile, light rains will be experienced in Northern Luzon, particularly over the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos due to the northeast monsoon. The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, can expect fair weather conditions apart from localized rain showers or thunderstorms.
Meanwhile, rough to very rough sea condition is expected over the seaboards of Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, the northern and eastern coast of Cagayan, the northern coast of Ilocos Norte and Isabela as well as the eastern seaboards of Aurora, Zambales and Bataan. The agency advises against sea travel in the mentioned coasts due to the strong to gale force winds associated with the northeast monsoon surge.
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
As we count 10 more days until Christmas, many Catholics prepare to attend the Simbang Gabi starting tomorrow at dawn. Simbang gabi, also known as Misa de Gallo, is a Filipino Christmas tradition practiced by Roman Catholics in anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Originating from the days of Spanish rule, it is a 9-day series of masses from December 16 to 24, the last of which is the midnight mass.
Most Filipinos believe that if a devotee completes the nine days of the Simbang Gabi, a request or wish will be granted. After the mass, churchgoers would buy and eat traditional delicacies such as bibingka and puto bumbong sold in the food stalls in the churchyard.
As Ruby makes its way outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), a new low pressure area (LPA) is being monitored by PAGASA. According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Jun Galang, the LPA was located at 1,500 kilometers east-southeast of Mindanao. Based on available data, the LPA has a slim chance of developing into a tropical cyclone. It is expected to enter PAR on Friday, Galang added.
Today, areas in Northern Luzon, particularly Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos Region will experience cold weather with light rains due to the northeast mosoon or hanging amihan.
With the continuous surge of the amihan, PAGASA issued a gale warning over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and along the western seaboard of Central Luzon. This includes Batanes, Calayan, Babuyan, Cagayan, Isabela, Ilocos Provinces, La Union, Pangasinan, Zambales and Bataan. Due to strong to gale force winds, rough to very rough sea conditions are expected in the said areas.
Meanwhile, weather in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao is expected to improve. Only isolated rains and thunderstorms are expected in the afternoon or evening.
Lowest Temperature dropped to 15 degree Celsius
Because the amihan is the prevailing wind system in the country, this results to cold weather especially in areas situated in Northern Luzon.
According to PAGASA, the amihan usually peaks in the month of January or February. The temperatures below will gradually decrease in the coming days.
Typhoon Ruby is expected to make its landfall over Dolores, Eastern Samar tonight between 8-10 PM. Residents in said areas are advised against strong winds, heavy to intense rainfall and storm surges up to 4.5 meters in height.
PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez says that if Ruby continues to move westward at 10 kph, after crossing Samar Provinces it would traverse the landmass of Ticao Island, Masbate and Romblon within 48 hours.
The Ridge of High Pressure Area influenced the movement of Typhoon Ruby, allowing it to dump more rains over the Visayas areas and portions of Southern Luzon and Northern Mindanao.
As of 1 PM today, Ruby was located at 230 kilometers East of Catarman, Northern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 220 kph.
Public Storm Warning Signal
Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS) are being raised as Typhoon Ruby moves in closer to the landmass.
Threat of Storm Surge
Perez explained that coastal areas under Signals no. 3 and 2 are more prone to the possibility of storm surges.
However, the 4.5-meter wave height is not expected in all coastal areas. Perez says the height of storm surge depends on the coastal bathymetry, or as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) refers to “ocean’s depths that is relative to sea level or the depths and shape of underwater terrains.”
High storm surges are most likely to happen in coastal areas with shallow bathymetry.
Full moon and Storm Surge= STORM TIDE
Tonight, the moon will be on its Full Moon phase when the Moon, Earth and Sun are in near alignment. During this phase, the Moon is at the opposite side of the Earth, its entire illuminated part facing us.
The Full moon has a strong gravitational pull that can affect tidal variations. Because of the Full Moon, Perez says there is a possible occurrence of “storm tide,” which can generate higher waves than storm surges. Storm tide happens with the combined effect of the Full Moon and a storm surge.
Two weather systems prevail over the country today–the tail-end of a cold front and the northeast monsoon.
Rains are expected over Western and Central Visayas, and the provinces of Aurora, Quezon, Camarines, Albay, Catanduanes and Sorsogon due to the tail-end of a cold front. This weather system is the front boundary of two air masses, which causes precipitation.
On the other hand, the northeast monsoon or amihan continues to bring lower temperatures and isolated light rains in the regions of Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos. The rest of the country, including Metro Manila, will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms today.
PAGASA weather forecaster Alvin Pura says that so far, there is no monitored weather disturbance inside or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
Meanwhile, rough to very rough sea condition is expected over the northern seaboards of Northern Luzon due to the surge of the amihan. Sea travel along these seaboards is risky as wave height could reach up to 4.5 meters.
TODAY IN HISTORY: THE CLAVERIA DECREE
Since 1850, most Filipino families started using new surnames based on the Claveria list.
On November 21, 1849, Governor General Narciso Claveria began the process of creating a civil registry of the entire population by issuing a decree standardizing records of Filipino names and surnames.
He released the Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos or the Alphabetical Catalogue of Surnames, which contained 60,662 Spanish and indigenous surnames.
Before the Spanish occupied the Philippines, most Filipinos had just one name. But when people started to convert to Christianity, most took two or three names and changed them whenever they wanted.
This practice created confusion among the Spanish bureaucrats, making tax collection a nightmare. With the Claveria decree, this task, along with law enforcement and setting up church records, became systemized.