This guide explains everything you need to know about typhoons in the Philippines — from how they form to how PAGASA classifies them and what each storm signal level means for your safety.
Typhoons are tropical cyclones that develop over warm ocean water in the western Pacific. They require sea surface temperatures above 26°C and favourable atmospheric conditions to form and intensify. The Philippines sits directly in the main typhoon belt, making it one of the most typhoon-prone countries on Earth.
The Philippines experiences typhoons year-round, but the peak season runs from June to November. The most active months are August, September, and October. An average of 20 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) each year, with 8–9 making landfall. The eastern coast of Samar and Leyte is historically the most frequently struck area.
Storm surge is an abnormal rise in sea level caused by a typhoon's winds and low pressure. It is the leading cause of typhoon-related deaths in the Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013 produced a storm surge of up to 7 metres in Tacloban City, killing thousands. Even a Signal 1 typhoon can produce a dangerous storm surge in low-lying coastal areas.
PAR is the area of the western Pacific Ocean where PAGASA monitors and names tropical cyclones that may affect the Philippines. It covers approximately 1,790 km from east to west and 1,500 km from north to south. Tropical cyclones are given Filipino names when they enter PAR.
For the latest typhoon information, visit PAGASA and check our live radar map.
This guide explains everything you need to know about typhoons in the Philippines — from how they form to how PAGASA classifies them and what each storm signal level means for your safety.
Typhoons are tropical cyclones that develop over warm ocean water in the western Pacific. They require sea surface temperatures above 26°C and favourable atmospheric conditions to form and intensify. The Philippines sits directly in the main typhoon belt, making it one of the most typhoon-prone countries on Earth.
The Philippines experiences typhoons year-round, but the peak season runs from June to November. The most active months are August, September, and October. An average of 20 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) each year, with 8–9 making landfall. The eastern coast of Samar and Leyte is historically the most frequently struck area.
Storm surge is an abnormal rise in sea level caused by a typhoon's winds and low pressure. It is the leading cause of typhoon-related deaths in the Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013 produced a storm surge of up to 7 metres in Tacloban City, killing thousands. Even a Signal 1 typhoon can produce a dangerous storm surge in low-lying coastal areas.
PAR is the area of the western Pacific Ocean where PAGASA monitors and names tropical cyclones that may affect the Philippines. It covers approximately 1,790 km from east to west and 1,500 km from north to south. Tropical cyclones are given Filipino names when they enter PAR.
For the latest typhoon information, visit PAGASA and check our live radar map.