A couple of days before Christmas, the Tropical Storm with international name “Melor” has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) at around 4:00A M today. It was given a local name “Nona”, the 14th tropical cyclone that entered the boundary this year.
At 10:00 AM today, it was estimated at 1, 025 kilometers east of Maasin, Southern Leyte. Carrying winds of 65 kilometer per hour and gustiness of up to 80 kilometer per hour, it is expected to move west-northwest at 17 kilometers per hour.
Nona may make landfall over Bicol Region on Tuesday morning if it maintains its speed and direction. Tomorrow morning, sea conditions in Southern Luzon and Visayas will become rough to very rough, making it risky for fishing boats and other seacraft to venture into the coastal waters. PAGASA Weather Specialist Rene Paciente says Public Storm Warning Signals (PSWS) may be hoisted tomorrow afternoon in the Bicol and Samar areas.
PAGASA alerted the residents of Bicol and Eastern Visayas as occasional rains and gusty winds may be experienced over Northern Samar and Bicol Region starting Monday. As of now, Nona has no direct effect yet on any part of the country.
Meanwhile, the Northeast Monsoon continues to affect the Northern Luzon. Cloudy skies with light rains will be experienced in the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera and Cagayan Valley. Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, and the rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated light rains and/or thunderstorms.
NONOY to NONA
The initial list of Tropical Cyclone names shows that the 14th cyclone that will enter the PAR this year will be named “Nonoy”. However, upon entering the PAR, the weather bureau decided to change it to “Nona”.
According to PAGASA, they changed the name because it sounds like “Noynoy,” which is the current president’s nickname. PAGASA Information Unit Chief Venus Valdemoro added that they do not want it to be offensive or linked to any prominent person. They also do not want people to focus on the name, but to emphasize the preparedness and urgency instead.
Despite the cyclone’s weakening, PAGASA reminds the public to brace itself for the possible effects of Typhoon Chedeng this weekend.
At 4 PM today, the eye of the typhoon was estimated at 845 kms. east-southeast of Casiguran, Aurora. Packing winds of 140 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 170 kph, Chedeng maintains its typhoon category. However, PAGASA claims it has a higher chance of further weakening as it moves closer to the archipelago. State Meteorologist Aldczar Aurelio says there is a possibility that Chedeng may be downgraded to tropical storm category before hitting the landmass.
One such factor of the typhoon’s weakening is the strong vertical wind shear or the wind strength along the cyclone. Aurelio likened it to a humming top or ‘trumpo’ where winds differ in the bottom and top areas of the cyclone. Chedeng may also weaken due to land interaction, especially in mountainous areas that may help break the cyclone’s wind formation.
In the latest run of the various weather forecasting models of the weather bureau, here’s what we can expect:
April 5 – Sunday
Morning: Chedeng to make landfall over the Aurora-Isabela area.
Evening: Chedeng to leave the landmass via Ilocos Sur.
April 6 – Monday
Morning: Chedeng to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility.
Based on PAGASA’s latest weather bulletin, Public Storm Warning Signal number 1 is raised over Isabela, Aurora, Quezon including Polillo Island, Catanduanes, Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur.
These areas may still be experiencing good weather conditions now, but the effects of Chedeng may be felt in at least 36 hours, or in a day and a half.
PAGASA also mentions the possibility of hoisting the same warning signal over Cagayan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya and the Cordillera Administrative Region in the next 12 hours as Chedeng moves closer to Eastern Luzon.
In a press briefing held in PAGASA this afternoon, Aurelio explains that although the country is experiencing good weather today, rains with occasional gusty winds can be expected by late Saturday, escalating to stormy weather, particularly over the Central-Northern Luzon area come Sunday.
In the Greater Metro Manila Area, there is a poor chance of having a storm warning signal raised. However, expect occasional rains and gusty winds as Chedeng crosses the land. The remaining parts of the country, on the other hand, can expect warm and humid weather, Aurelio added.
As Chedeng threatens the country, officials remind the residents living in areas under signal #1 to be prepared against possible flash floods and landslides. Storm surges of up to 2 metes are also possible over the eastern coast of Aurora, Quezon and Isabela. Even fisherfolk over the eastern seaboard of Bicol Region and Visayas are advised against sea travel due to the rough to very rough sea conditions generated by Chedeng.
Christmas is about gift-giving and celebrating with families and friends. This year, aside from the parties and presents, we must also prepare our emergency kit and rainy day essentials as #NinaPH threatens to affect the country.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), an average number of 1 or 2 tropical cyclones enter the PAR during the month of December. PAGASA added that these cyclones have a higher chance of hitting the landmass during ber months due to the effect of the northeast monsoon or amihan that directs the cyclones towards the country–which means that our holidays may be as merry as they are stormy. Take a look at some of the tropical cyclones that dropped by our country during the holiday season in the last few decades.
DINANG
This tropical cyclone started as a cloud cluster spotted in Guam, which later developed into a tropical cyclone on the 22nd of December, 1981. From a tropical depression, it was named “Dinang” as it intensified into a tropical storm. Dinang initially moved west-northwest but changed its course to a westward direction due to the influence of a ridge of a high pressure area.
Dinang gained strength and intensified into a typhoon with maximum sustained winds that reached 185 kilometers per hour. It lashed the northern tip of Samar on Christmas Eve. It crossed the southern portion of Bicol Region, through the Bondoc peninsula, Marinduque and Mindoro. Dinang was located at 120 kilometers south of Metro Manila on December 26, which, according to PAGASA was its closest distance from the country’s capital.
It then moved towards the South China Sea, and after 48 hours of reaching its peak intensity, it weakened and dissipated.
By virtue of the Proclamation No. 2150, a state of public calamity in the provinces of Northern Samar, Masbate, Oriental Mindoro and Romblon was declared due to the damage brought by Dinang.
APIANG
Apiang became a tropical storm in the afternoon of December 23, 1988. It threatened Bicol, Quezon, Aurora, Quirino, Isabela and Cagayan. However, other weather systems weakend and slowed it down. PAGASA noted its clockwise loop on December 25, and was downgraded into a tropical depression. By the morning of December 26, Apiang already dissipated.
PURING
This cyclone crossed the PAR from the 23rd up to the 29th of December in 1993. Moving west-northwest, it made its way towards the Surigao-Leyte Area and passed through Bohol, Cebu, Negros, Panay and the Calamian Group of Islands.
Signal 3 was hoisted over Surigao Provinces, Dinagat Island, Agusan Del Norte, Camiguin Island, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Negros, Panay and Northern Palawan. Signal Number 2 was raised over Agusan Del Sur, Masbate, Misamis Provinces, Albay, Romblon, Sorsogon, Burias Island, Lanao Provinces, Davao Del Norte, Davao Oriental, Bukidnon, Zamboanga Del Norte, the rest of Palawan, Mindoro and the rest of Visayas. Metro Manila, Bataan, the rest of Southern Luzon, Lubang Island and the rest of Mindanao were put under Signal Number 1.
157 people were recorded dead while 276 were injured.
Typhoon Puring was the 32nd tropical storm that hit the country in 1993. This was a record-breaking season because normally, an average of only 19 to 20 tropical cyclones enters the PAR each year.
TRINING
On December 25, 1995, Trining formed into a tropical depression in the South Philippine Sea. It moved eastward close to the Southern Leyte – Surigao del Norte area but later changed course. Moving northeast, it exited the PAR through the northern part of the Philippine Sea.
ZIGZAG
From an active low pressure area (LPA) spotted east of Bicol, Zigzag developed into a tropical depression on Christmas morning in 2003. While moving westward, it slowed down in the evening of the 26th. Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1 was raised over the Bicol Region, Samar, Leyte, Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Surigao Provinces, Agusan del Norte and Camiguin. Zigzag moved towards Visayas, crossing the southern part of Samar and Leyte. After hitting the land, it weakened into a low pressure area in the morning of December 28.
QUINTA
As a low pressure area, this weather disturbance moved over the east of Northern Mindanao where it developed into a tropical depression on December 25, 2012. Quinta intensified into a Tropical Storm and was given an international name Wukong, which means a famous hero in a Chinese Story.
Nearing the landmass, Signal number 2 was declared over Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Dinagat Province, Siargao Island, Western Samar, Cebu, Camotes Island, Bohol, Biliran, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Island, Sorsogon, Masbate, Ticao and the northern part of Negros Oriental.
Meanwhile, Signal number 1 was raised over Occidental & Oriental Mindoro, Northern Palawan, Calamian Group of Islands, Cuyo Island, Marinduque, Romblon, Lubang Island, Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Iloilo, the rest of Negros Oriental, Guimaras, Camiguin, Siquijor, Burias Island, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur and Misamis Oriental.
Quinta crossed the region of Visayas where it made its landfall 7 times.
1st landfall: Eastern Samar
2nd landfall: Albuyog, Leyte
3rd – 5th landfall: Poro Island, Pacijan and Catmon (all in Cebu Province)
6th landfall: Northern part of Roxas
7th landfall: Coron, Palawan
After its series of landfalls, Quinta finally weakened into a tropical depression before it headed to Palawan. It moved towards the West Philippine Sea and further weakened due to the cold air intrusion from the amihan over the west of Palawan.
In a Situational Report of the NDRRMC dated on December 31, 2012, 44 incidents were monitored: two maritime incidents in Regions IV-A, IV-B, V and VIII; one drowing incident in Region V; one missing person and two falling tree incidents in Region VIII; one capsized banca in CARAGA; and thirty-three flooding incidents in Regions V, VI and VIII.
More than 50 thousand families were affected in Regions IV-B, V, VI, VII and VIII. Twenty people were reported dead, three were injured and four were missing. Quinta damaged more than 5 thousand houses in Regions VI, VII and VIII. Cost of damage amounted to more than 200 million pesos in infrastructure and agriculture.
Quinta’s intensity has brought storm surge over Cebu, Borongan City and Merida, Leyte on December 26, 2012 in which 2 casualties were recorded by the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH).
Preparation in the midst of Celebration
The tropical cyclones mentioned above are proof that the Yuletide Season does not equate to fair weather— so preparation should always be a part of any celebration. This way, even if Christmas comes in a stormy package, you’ll still be able to enjoy it by staying safe and secure.
Sources:
PAGASA-DOST | NDRRMC | http://blog.noah.dost.gov.ph/2014/02/04/compilation-of-storm-surge-occurrences-in-the-philippines/ | http://www.gov.ph/1981/12/29/proclamation-no-2150-s-1981/
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.
Yolanda in the eye of PAGASA: Delubyo
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.
* 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.
While typhoon Yolanda traverses the landmass of Visayas and Southern Luzon, the PAGASA stations have recorded different wind strength and gustiness.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
2013 Articles and Artworks
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.