PAGASA (the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) issues dozens of weather products every day — from routine public weather forecasts to special typhoon bulletins and flood advisories. Understanding which product to look for, and how to read it, is an essential skill for every Filipino household.

The Public Weather Forecast

PAGASA issues a Public Weather Forecast twice daily, at 5:00 AM and 5:00 PM Philippine Standard Time (PST). This is the standard daily forecast that covers the general weather outlook for the next 24 hours across all regions of the Philippines. It describes the prevailing weather system (typhoon, monsoon, inter-tropical convergence zone, or fair weather), the expected rainfall, and the wind direction and speed for each region. The 5:00 PM forecast also includes a brief outlook for the following day.

When reading the public forecast, focus on the section that covers your region. The forecast uses standard meteorological language: "partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms" is typical fair-weather language, while "cloudy skies with moderate to heavy rains" indicates a more significant weather system affecting your area.

The Tropical Cyclone Bulletin

When a tropical cyclone is within or approaching the PAR, PAGASA issues Tropical Cyclone Bulletins every six hours — at 2:00 AM, 8:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 8:00 PM PST. During rapidly intensifying or fast-moving storms, bulletins may be issued every three hours. Each bulletin contains the current position of the storm (latitude and longitude), its maximum sustained winds and gusts, its central pressure, its current movement (direction and speed), and the forecast track for the next 24 to 72 hours.

The most important element of the typhoon bulletin for most people is the list of areas under wind signals. This tells you which provinces and cities are under Signal No. 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, and what the expected rainfall and wind conditions are for each signal area. If your province is listed, follow the guidance for that signal level immediately.

The Storm Surge Advisory

Separate from the wind signal bulletin, PAGASA issues Storm Surge Advisories for coastal areas in the path of a typhoon. These advisories specify the expected height of storm surge in metres for each affected province. They are issued as soon as PAGASA determines that storm surge is a significant threat, typically 24 to 48 hours before the typhoon makes landfall. A storm surge advisory for your coastal community is a mandatory evacuation signal, regardless of what wind signal has been raised.

The Rainfall Advisory

PAGASA issues Rainfall Advisories when intense rainfall is expected to cause flooding or landslides, even in the absence of a typhoon. These advisories are colour-coded: a Yellow Rainfall Advisory means 7.5 to 15 millimetres of rain per hour is expected; Orange means 15 to 30 mm/hour; Red means more than 30 mm/hour. Red Rainfall Advisories indicate conditions that can cause flash floods and landslides within hours.

Where to Find Official PAGASA Forecasts

All PAGASA weather products are published on the official PAGASA website (bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph) and on the official PAGASA Facebook page. The website is the authoritative source — social media posts may be delayed or incomplete. WeatherAlertPH aggregates PAGASA bulletins and displays them on our Alerts page, updated every five minutes. During a typhoon, we recommend monitoring both the official PAGASA source and WeatherAlertPH for the most complete picture.