PAGASA retires 8 tropical cyclone names

MANILA, Philippines — Eight tropical cyclone names will face retirement from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s list of domestic storm names due to their devastating impact during 2024, the weather agency reported.

“The names Aghon, Enteng, Julian, Kristine, Leon, Nika, Ofel and Pepito will be removed from the list of domestic names used by the agency for tropical cyclones occurring within the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR),” PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando announced during a press conference on Feb. 17.

Due to this decision, 2024 became the year with the highest number of decommissioned names since the current system was implemented in 2001.

Based on official reports from the Office of Civil Defense, a tropical cyclone name is retired if it results in at least 300 fatalities or damage of at least P1 billion to homes, agriculture and infrastructure, PAGASA explained.

The state weather bureau cited the compounded impacts of successive typhoons in the last quarter of 2024 as a key reason for retiring the storm names that directly contributed to widespread devastation.

As replacements, the names Amuyao, Edring, Josefa, Kidul, Lekep, Nanolay, Onos and Puwok will be used, effective Jan. 1, 2028.

Rain from shear line

The shear line continues to bring widespread rainfall to Eastern Visayas, with heavy rains expected across most parts of the Visayas, Northern Mindanao and the Caraga region, according to PAGASA.

The weather agency reported that large portions of Luzon remain under the influence of the shear line, causing heavy rains and storms in Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the provinces of Aurora, Quezon, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.

Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon can expect isolated or light rainfall due to the northeast monsoon, while Mindanao may see localized thunderstorms, which could bring heavy downpours, landslides and flooding, particularly in the eastern regions.

Meanwhile, in the Visayas, heavy rains and potential landslides remain a concern, particularly in central and eastern regions, due to the shear line. However, Western Visayas is expected to experience better weather.