MANILA, Philippines — What do typhoons and planes have in common?
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, their speed.
An official of PAGASA has likened the five categories of tropical cyclones to modes of transportation, where a super typhoon can be compared to a moving airplane.
PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja added that a tropical depression can be compared to a moving bicycle; a tropical storm, to a moving motorcycle, and a severe tropical storm and typhoon to a moving train in other countries.
“We categorize a super typhoon if its wind strength reaches 221 kilometers per hour, but we downgraded (the category) to 185 kph as the wind is already very strong,” he said.
Estareja added that a cyclone can be categorized as tropical depression if its wind threat is 61 kph or less; tropical storm, between 62 and 88 kph; severe tropical storm, between 89 and 117 kph; typhoon, between 118 and 184 kph and super typhoon, 185 kph or higher.
“The tropical cyclone wind signal number 1 is issued if the wind threat is 61 kph or less; tropical cyclone wind signal number 2, between 62 and 88 kph; tropical cyclone wind signal number 3, between 88 and 117 kph; wind signal number 4, between 118 and 184 kph and tropical cyclone wind signal number 5, 185 kph and up,” he said.
According to Estareja, the state weather bureau provides lead time for residents to prepare when a tropical cyclone signal is raised.
He said tropical cyclone wind signal No.1 is issued 36 hours prior to the wind threat; tropical cyclone wind signal No. 2, 24 hours; tropical cyclone wind signal No. 3, 18 hours and tropical cyclone wind signal Nos. 4 and 5, 12 hours.
Estareja said cyclones are most active from the months of June to September.
“During these months, habagat (southwest monsoon) is also enhanced just like when Carina hit the country. It was impactful because of the habagat,” Estareja said.
He said typhoons seldom occur from January to May.
“Based on our experience, even if it enters the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), it eventually dissipates into a low-pressure area,” Estareja said, adding that there is a chance for cyclones to make landfall during the months of October to December.
“A typhoon is formed in the warm tropical waters, including in the Philippines. It is characterized as rotating clouds. The hazards of typhoons include strong winds, heavy rains and storm surge,” he said.
Estareja said an average of 20 typhoons enter PAR, almost half of which make landfall.
“The PAR does not only cover the landmass of the Philippines, but surrounding seas, including the Pacific Ocean. On the right side, we have the Philippine Sea; north, the Balintang Channel; west side, the West Philippine Sea and south, Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea.
“The PAR also covers portions of Taiwan as when there is a typhoon, Batanes is mostly affected,” he said.
He said that from 1951 to 2013, only the southern part of Mindanao was not affected by typhoons, particularly Tawi-Tawi and Sulu.