Getting accurate, timely weather information in the Philippines can mean the difference between safety and disaster. With dozens of weather apps and websites available, it can be difficult to know which ones to trust. This guide covers the most reliable sources for Philippine weather data, from official government bulletins to international forecast models.
Official Sources: Always the Most Authoritative
PAGASA (pagasa.dost.gov.ph) is the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration — the official government weather agency. PAGASA is the only source for official typhoon warnings, rainfall advisories, and flood bulletins. During active weather events, PAGASA issues bulletins every six hours (or more frequently for approaching typhoons). The PAGASA website also provides access to weather station data, seasonal forecasts, and climate information. PAGASA's Facebook page (@dost.pagasa) is often the fastest way to receive official updates during rapidly developing weather situations.
International Forecast Models
Windy.com is a popular weather visualisation platform that displays data from multiple global forecast models, including the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model — widely considered the most accurate global weather model. Windy is particularly useful for visualising wind patterns, typhoon tracks, and wave heights around the Philippines. The free version provides 10-day forecasts; the premium version extends this to 25 days.
Ventusky.com offers similar animated weather map visualisations with a clean, intuitive interface. It is particularly good for visualising temperature gradients and precipitation patterns across the Philippines.
AccuWeather (accuweather.com) provides city-level forecasts for hundreds of Philippine cities and municipalities, with a proprietary forecast model that often performs well for short-range (1–3 day) forecasts. AccuWeather's MinuteCast feature provides minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts for the next two hours, which is useful during active rainfall events.
WeatherAlertPH: Built for the Philippines
WeatherAlertPH (weatheralertph.com) is designed specifically for the Philippine context. Unlike international weather apps that treat the Philippines as one of thousands of locations, WeatherAlertPH focuses exclusively on Philippine weather hazards — typhoon warnings, flood alerts, storm surge risks, and community storm reports. Key features include:
- Live typhoon and flood alerts sourced from PAGASA and GDACS, updated every 30 minutes
- City-level weather forecasts for over 150 Philippine cities and municipalities
- An animated wind and radar map showing real-time conditions across the archipelago
- Community storm photos uploaded by Filipinos across the country
- A library of preparedness articles written specifically for Philippine conditions
Social Media: Fast but Unverified
Facebook groups and pages dedicated to Philippine weather — including PAGASA's official page, regional weather monitoring groups, and barangay emergency pages — can provide very fast updates during active weather events. However, social media also spreads misinformation rapidly during emergencies. Always verify weather information against official PAGASA bulletins before acting on it, particularly for typhoon track forecasts and evacuation orders.
Which Source Should You Use?
For official warnings and evacuation orders: PAGASA only. For general weather planning and travel: AccuWeather or WeatherAlertPH for city-level forecasts. For visualising large-scale weather patterns and typhoon tracks: Windy.com or Ventusky.com. For community reports and local conditions: WeatherAlertPH's community photo section and local Facebook groups (with verification). During any active typhoon or flood event, monitor PAGASA bulletins as your primary source and use other apps only as supplementary information.