STORMS, TYPHOONS, AND CYCLONES

Meteorology
Objectives:
 Introduction
Storms, typhoons, and cyclones are intense atmospheric
disturbances characterized by powerful winds and heavy
precipitation.

While storms encompass a wide range of weather phenomena,

typhoons and cyclones specifically refer to tropical cyclones that
occur in different parts of the world. These cyclones are fueled by
warm ocean waters and driven by complex atmospheric
dynamics.

By studying their formation, features, and global distribution, we

can better understand their impacts on society, economies, and
ecosystems, as well as the importance of preparedness and
response measures
What is a Storm?
Definition:
A storm is a violent disturbance of the atmosphere characterized by strong
winds, heavy rainfall, thunder, and lightning.

Occur due to the clash of warm and cold air masses, resulting in instability and
convective activity.
Types of Storm:

Various Graphic Samples of Storm

- Localized weather phenomenon
- Presence of thunder, lightning, and atmospheric
disturbances Thunderstorm
- Towering cumulonimbus clouds
- Intense updrafts and downdrafts
- Heavy rainfall and rapid changes in atmospheric
pressure
- Relatively short duration, lasting from minutes to
hours
- Occur during warm and humid weather conditions
- Can be accompanied by strong winds
 - Hailstorm: Severe weather event
- Formation of hailstones
- Hailstones are solid ice balls or lumps
- Formed within strong thunderstorm updrafts
- Raindrops freeze into ice pellets
- Additional layers of ice accumulate through collisions
- Hailstones grow until too heavy and fall to the ground
Hailstorm - Associated with severe thunderstorms and turbulent
conditions
- Can cause damage to buildings, vehicles, and crops.
- \Weather event characterized by heavy falling of
snow
- Occurs when moisture freezes into ice crystals
- Typically happens during winter or in colder
regions Snowstorm
- Associated with low temperatures and low-
pressure systems
- Can reduce visibility and create hazardous travel
conditions
- Intensity varies from light snow showers to
blizzards
- Blizzards involve strong winds and blowing snow
- Impacts transportation, may cause power outages
 -Meteorological phenomenon in arid or desert regions
- Strong winds carry and suspend particles of sand and dust
- Occurs due to weather patterns or human activities
- Reduces visibility and creates a hazy or brownish
atmosphere
- High winds lift and transport fine particles
Sandstorm - Can have health hazards and damage property
- Disrupts transportation and infrastructure
- Natural occurrence in desert environments
Cyclones
 Cyclones are huge revolving storms caused by
winds blowing around a central area of low
atmospheric pressure.
Wind blows anti-clockwise in the NH
and clockwise in the SH
Typhoon- termed used when it formed
in the Pacific ocean Hurricane- termed
used when it formed in the Atlantic
ocean Cyclone- termed used when it
formed in the southern ocean and Indian
ocean
Willy-willy- termed used in Australia
 Classification of cyclone according to synoptic
scale
 1.Polar cyclone (polar regions, vast)

 2.Polar lows (polar regions, short)

 3.Extratropical cyclone (mid-latitude cyclone)

 4.Subtropical cyclone (between the equator

and 50o N and S)

 5.Mesocyclone (associated with tornado

formation)
 6.Tropical cyclone (tropics)
 Tropical cyclone is non-frontal synoptic scale
low- pressure system over tropical waters with
organized convection (i.e. Thunderstorm activity) and
cyclonic surface circulation.
This low pressure creates
violent storms that are
characterised by winds
over 100km/h and heavy
rainfall.
They have caused the
loss of life on a number of
occasions due to there
intensity.
 TC has synoptic scales of 100’s km
 Average number of typhoons in the different areas of the world
 1. Warm ocean waters at least (26.5°C) to provide the
heat.
 2. Availability of moisture. Moisture is necessary for
providing latent heat of condensation.
 3. Coriolis force to provide the rotation. (they do not
form within 5o of the equator due to the negligible CF
there).
 4. A seedling or cyclonic weather disturbance with
extra cloud cover.
 5. Almost uniform large scale wind with little vertical
shear to allow heat to accumulate (less than 10m/s).
 6. An exhaust system consisting of a divergent upper
level disturbance.
 Peak intensity of a typhoon is the maximum intensity
the storm reaches during its entire lifetime.
 It results from an accumulation of intensification, which
is equivalent to speed being an accumulation of
acceleration.

 Cyclone can grow depends on two oceanic

factors:
 pre-storm sea surface temperature
 difference in temperature between the surface and
subsurface.

 A warmer sea surface generally provides more

energy for storm development and thus favors higher
intensification rates.
 Evaporation
increases rapidly
as temperature
increases.
 Evaporation=

energy in the form

of latent heat that
fuels the cyclone.
 Orange/yellow regions- tropics between June and
December
 Cold currents
 Without the Coriolis force, surface winds cannot gain

sufficient rotation to converge and the low pressure of

the disturbance cannot be maintained.

 Large values of vertical wind shear disrupt the formation

of a tropical cyclone by interfering with the organization
of deep convection around the cyclone center.
◦ Wind shear- refers to a change in wind speed or
direction with height in the atmosphere.
Dry air from Sahara can
weaken storms
Dust blocks the sun and
cools the ocean
 Eye: A region 30-65 km in diameter found at the center where
skies are often clear, winds are light, and the storm's lowest
pressure readings are obtained.
 Eye Wall: A ring of cumulonimbus clouds that swirl around the eye.
The heaviest precipitation and strongest winds are found here.
 Spiral Rainbands: Bands of heavy convective showers that
spiral inward toward the storm's center. Thunderstorms are
observed here.
 In the “eye”, air is slowly sinking (causes
compressional warming) and “warm
core”
 The eyewall has a net upward airflow
as a result of numerous updrafts and
downdrafts
 Near the top of the eye-wall clouds
relatively dry air flows outwards from
the center. This diverging air aloft
extending outwards for 100s km. As
the outflow reaches the cyclones
edges it sinks.
 In the spiral rain bands, air converges
at the surface, ascends through these
bands, diverges aloft, and descends on
both sides of the bands.
 Strong pressure gradient within
eyewall
 Responsible for strong typhoon

winds. Speed is fastest on

“right” side of the typhoon:
sum of rotational and
forward velocity.
 Rain occurs in eyewall

(heaviest) and spiral rainbands.

 Temperature increases in the

eye because of descending air.

 Tropical Disturbance:
The birth of a hurricane, having only a slight circulation with no
closed isobars around an area of low pressure.
 Tropical disturbances commonly exist in the tropical trade winds at any
one time and are often accompanied by clouds and precipitation.
 Tropical Depression
A tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained wind speed
less than 64 KPH. Depressions have a closed circulation
 Tropical Storm
A tropical storm has a maximum sustained surface wind speed
between 64 KPH and 117 KPH . The convection in tropical
storms is usually more concentrated near the center with outer
rainfall organizing into distinct bands.
 Typhoon or Hurricane
Typhoon has a maximum winds exceed 117 KPH.
 Tropical Depression (TD) has maximum sustained winds of up to
61 kilometers per hour, equivalent to 33 nautical miles per hour or
more.

Tropical Storm (TS) packs 62 to 117 kilometers per hour.

Meanwhile, a Severe Tropical Storm will only be applicable for the

International Warning for Shipping, and will not be used for general
public dissemination unlike the other categories.

Typhoon (TY) is used in identifying a tropical cyclone with wind

speeds 118 to 220 kilometers per hour or 64 to 120 knots.

Super Typhoon (STY) has maximum sustained winds of more than

220 kilometers per hour. STY is as powerful as 120 nautical miles
per hour or more.
 1. Formative stage
 2. Immature stage
 3. Mature stage
 4. Decay stage

 Formative (Incipient) Stage

◦ The tropical cyclone starts as a low pressure system with
cyclonic wind circulation. At the formative stage, the
surface pressure at the center of the system falls to
about 1000 mb The wind speed at this stage is below 34
kt. Clouds and rainfall are of disorganized squall type.
◦ Cyclogenesis- refers to the process of
cyclone formation and intensification
 Formation
process
 Surface water evaporates and is convected
upward
 Air rises and diverges; some air is forced towards
the eye center, where it sinks
 Compressional heating in the eye creates the
warm core and clear conditions
 Divergence aloft and warmer sir results in lower
surface pressure
 Increased surface pressure gradient yields
increased surface winds
 Evaporation increases and the cycle strengthens
 Immature Stage
 At the immature Stage there is a further
drop in surface pressure at the centre
of the system (to below 1000 mb). The
wind speeds increase to hurricane force
(about 64 kt). Clouds and rainfall are
more organized and spiral inwards. The
area involved is still relatively small
(radius is 30 to 50 km)

 Mature Stage
At the mature stage the surface pressure at the center of remains
low but steady (pressure averages 950 mb; values of about 900
mb have been recorded. The lowest recorded pressure was 870
mb).
The wind speed reach that of the hurricane force (~64 kt), but is
more steady.There is bad weather. (Rainfall may reach 10 – 20 cm
in 3 hours.). The area involved increases (radius ranges from 200
to 1000 km; some systems may reach radii of 1700 km).
 Decaying Stage
 Tropical cyclones decay due to;
 (a) Frictional dissipation (by
surface features),
 (b) Disruption of vortex,
(by terrain or encounter
with westerlies),
(c) Lack of sufficient moisture as they move inland
(d)movement to places of cold sea surface
temperatures
If tropical cyclones move into the extra-tropics they
encounter westerlies. They may dissipate or be
transformed into extra-tropical cyclones.
Typical lifetime is less than a week.
 Lifetime of a Cyclone
 The lifetime of a cyclone is determined
by how favourable the atmospheric
environment is, movement, sea surface
temperatures.
 While most cyclones undergo a life-
cycle of 3-7 days some weak ones only
briefly reach gale force while others
can be sustained for weeks if they
remain in a favourable environment.
 The longest being Hurricane Ginger
(1971) that lasted for 30 days.

Image by : Pixabay.com
There are a variety of metrics commonly used to measure storm
size. The most common metrics include the radius of maximum
wind, the radius of 34-knot wind , the radius of outermost
closed isobar (ROCI), and the radius of vanishing wind

Size descriptions of tropical cyclones

ROCI Type
Less than 2 degrees latitude Very small/midget
2 to 3 degrees of latitude Small
3 to 6 degrees of latitude Medium/Average
6 to 8 degrees of latitude Large
Over 8 degrees of latitude Very large

1o lat= 60 nm
 The Philippine Area of
Responsibility (PAR) is
bounded by the black
lines joining the
following points:
25°N - 120°E
 25°N - 135°E
 5°N - 135°E
 5°N - 115°E
 15°N - 115°E
 21°N -
120°E.

 Public Storm Warning Signal Number 1
◦ A tropical cyclone may threaten or affect the locality. Winds from 30-60 KPH may
be expected in at least 36 hours.
 Public Storm Warning Signal Number 2
◦ A tropical cyclone may threaten the locality. Winds between 61-120 kph may be
expected in at least 24 hours.
 Public Storm Warning Signal Number 3
◦ A tropical cyclone will affect the locality. Winds of 121 - 170 Kph may be expected
in at least 18 hours.
 Public Storm Warning Signal Number 4
◦ A very strong typhoon will affect the locality. Very strong winds of more than 171-
220 kph may be expected in at least 12 hours.
 Public Storm Warning Signal Number 5
◦ Super typhoon. Very strong winds over 220 kph may be expected in at least 12
hours.
PSWS LEAD TIME WINDS IMPACTS OF
(hours) THE WIND
(kph)

1 36 30-60 No damage to
very light damage
2 24 61-120 Light to moderate
damage
3 18 121-170 Moderate to
heavy damage
4 12 171-220 Heavy to very
heavy
damage
5 12 More than 220 Very heavy to
https://www.pexels.com/@mikebirdy

widespread
damage
 Winds of 30-60 kph is
expected.
 Sea condition
◦ Wave Height: 1.25-4.0 meters
 Damage to structures
Very light or no damage to high risk
structures,
Light to medium and low risk structures
Slight damage to some houses of very
light materials or makeshift structures in
exposed communities.
 Damage to vegetations
Some banana plants are tilted, a few
downed and leaves are generally
damaged
Twigs of small trees may be broken.
Rice crops, however, may suffer significant
damage when it is in its flowering stage.
 Winds of greater than 61 kph and up to 120
kph may be expected in at least 24 hours.
 Sea condition
 Wave Height: 4.1-14.0 m

Storm surge possible at coastal areas

Damage to structures
Light to Moderate damage to high risk
structures;
· Very light to light damage to medium-risk
structures;
· No damage to very light damage to low risk
structures
Unshielded, old dilapidated schoolhouses,
makeshift shanties, and other structures of light
materials are partially damaged or unroofed.
 Damage to vegetations

Most banana plants, a few mango trees, ipil-ipil and

similar types of trees are downed or broken Some
coconut trees may be tilted with few others broken
Rice and corn may be adversely affected
Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with
some heavy-foliaged trees blown down.
 Winds of greater than 121 kph up to
170 kph may be expected in at least 18
hours.
 Sea condition
 Wave Height: > 14.0 meters
Storm surge possible at coastal areas
 Damage to structures
Heavy damage to high–risk structures;
· Moderate damage to medium- risk
structures;
· Light damage to low-risk structures
Increasing damage to old, dilapidated
residential structures and houses of
light materials (up to 50% in a
community)
 Damage to vegetations
Almost all banana plants are downed, some
big trees (acacia, mango, etc.) are broken
or uprooted,
Dwarf-type or hybrid coconut trees are
tilted or downed
Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees
with heavy foliage blown off; some large
trees blown down.
 Very strong winds of greater than 171
kph up to 220 kph may be expected in at
least 12 hours.
 Sea condition
 Wave Height: more than 14.0 meters

Storm surge2-3m possible at coastal areas

 Damage to structures

Very heavy damage to high –risk structures

· Heavy damage to medium risk structures;
· Moderate damageto low-risk structures
Considerable damage to structures of light
materials (up to 75% are totally and
partially destroyed); complete roof
structure failures.
 Damage to vegetations

There is almost total damage to

banana plantation,
Most mango trees, ipil-ipil and similar types
of large trees are downed or broken.
Coconut plantation may suffer
extensive damage.
Rice and corn plantation may suffer
severe losses.
 more than 220kph
Expected in12hrs on 1stissuance.
 Sea condition
 Wave Height: more than 14.0 m

Storm surge more than 3 meters possible

at coastal areas
 Damage to structures

Widespread damage to high-risk

structures
· Very heavy damage to medium-risk
structures
· Heavy damage to low-risk structures; Almost
total damage to structures of light materials,
especially in highly exposed coastal areas.
 Damage to vegetations

Total damage to banana plantation

Most tall trees are broken, uprooted
or defoliated;
Coconut trees are stooped, broken or
uprooted. Few plants and trees survived
5

4
3.4 3.4 3.
1 2.
3
7 2.
3
 Average number of typhoons per
2 1. 1. year- 20
5 4
1 0.
0.
9
 Months of July- August and
0.
5
3
0.3 0.4
September have the highest
0
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC average number of typhoons (>3)

Tropical Cyclones (68%)

 Typhoons cause
Earthquake &
Floodings
more deaths (68%)
Others(25%) Landslides
(5%)
(2%)

NUMBER OF DEATHS
 1. Super Typhoon Haiyan (international name: Yolanda), the strongest storm ever
recorded on land, destroys entire towns across the central Philippines on November
8, 2013. When the government stopped its count months later, more than 7,350
people were listed as dead or missing.

 2. Tropical Storm Uring (international name: Thelma) unleashes flash floods on

the central city of Ormoc on Leyte island on November 15, 1991, killing more than
5,100.

 3. Typhoon Pablo (international name: Bopha) smashes into the main southern
island of Mindanao on December 3, 2012. Rarely hit by major storms, the
unprepared region suffers about 1,900 people dead or missing.

 4. Typhoon Nitang (international name: Ike) hits the central Philippines on

August 31, 1984, killing 1,363 people.

 5. Typhoon Sendong ((international name: Washi )hits the northern part of

Mindanao island on December 16, 2011, killing at least 1,080 people.
 6. Floods and landslides unleashed by Typhoon Trix kill 995 people in the
Bicol region of the main island of Luzon on October 16, 1952.

 7. Typhoon Amy rakes across the central islands in December 1951, with
floods, landslides and a massive storm surge killing 991 people.

 8. Typhoon Sisang (international name: Nina) hits the eastern city of

Legaspi on November 25, 1987, triggering giant storm surges and
unleashing mudslides down Mayon volcano that claim 979 lives.

 9. Typhoon Frank (international name: Fengshen) tracks an erratic and

destructive path across the central islands and nearby areas from June 20,
2008, killing 938 people.

 10. Typhoon Rosing (international name: Angela), with gusts of up to 260

kilometers an hour, causes carnage in Bicol and later Manila from November
2, 1995, killing 936 people.
interaction between two typhoons having a certain distance

(about 1300-1400 km depending on the sizes of the cyclones)
from each other and begin to rotate about a common midpoint.
Recently, the definition involved two or more
typhoons that interact from each other.
Fujiwhara effect' is named after Dr. Fujiwhara of
`Japan. He discovered interaction between two
cyclonic vortices when they were close to each
other.
The point is determined by the relative mass and
the vortices intensity. The smaller typhoon
engaged in such mutual orbiting always moves
faster than its bigger counterpart. Some
interactions eventually cause the two typhoons to
spiral into the center and merge.
When two vortices spinning counter-clockwise
draw near and one of the vortices is bigger than
the other, they start spinning around each other
for a brief time with the larger one dominating.
Gradually the lesser of the two gets trapped in
the circulation of the larger one and absorbed.
When comparable vortices spin in opposite
directions, one clockwise, one counter-
clockwise, they press each other away when
they near.
 Cyclone interactions are broken down into four
categories or steps:
 1. Approach and Capture

 2. Mutual Orbit

 3. Merger

 4. Escape.
 Weather stations
 Buoys
 Ships
 Radar
 Aircraft Reconnaissance
 Visible/Infrared Satellites
 Microwave satellites

 Satellite estimates account for vast majority of

the record
1. Tropical cyclones out at sea cause large waves, heavy rain, and high
winds, disrupting international shipping and, at times, causing
shipwrecks.
2. Tropical cyclones stir up water, leaving a cool wake behind them,
which causes the region to be less favourable for subsequent tropical
cyclones.
3. On land, strong winds can damage or destroy vehicles, buildings,
bridges, and other outside objects, turning loose debris into deadly
flying projectiles.
4. The storm surge, is typically the worst effect from landfalling tropical
cyclones, historically resulting in 90% of tropical cyclone deaths.
5. The broad rotation of a landfalling tropical cyclone, and vertical wind
shear at its periphery, spawns tornadoes.
6. Tropical cyclones have been responsible for the deaths of about
1.9 million people worldwide. Large areas of standing water caused by
flooding lead to infection, as well as contributing to mosquito-borne
illnesses.
7. Tropical cyclones significantly interrupt infrastructure, leading to power
outages, bridge destruction, and the hampering of reconstruction
efforts.
 Tropical cyclones are named to provide ease of communication between
forecasters and the general public regarding forecasts, watches, and warnings.
 1890s - Australian weatherman Clement Wragge started giving female names
to tropical cyclones.
 1900s- male names were also given to typhoons that formed elsewhere.
 1912 - a number of US Air Force pilots, US Navy soldiers, and weather
forecasters named storms with supposed distinction after their wives and
girlfriends.
 From 1963 to 2001, the Philippines had adopted a similar naming system using
Filipino women's names starting from A to Y and ending with -NG or -ING like
“Auring,” and “Yayang.”
These names had been used according to the 19 letters of the Filipino alphabet
until the then Department of Education, Culture and Sports, now Department
of Education, modernized it bringing it up to 26 letters including F, J, N, Q, X,
and Z.
 1998 – Pagasa held a contest to replace the old-sounding female nicknames.
 2001- adopted the new list of names (old names were replaced particularly
those who claimed more lives)
 1 2 3 4

2009 2010 2011 2012

2013 2014 2015 2016
2017 2018 2019 2020
2021 2022 2023 2024

AURING AGATON AMANG AMBO

BISING BASYANG BETTY BUTCHOY
CRISING CALOY CHEDENG CARINA
DANTE DOMENG DODONG DINDO
EMONG ESTER EGAY ENTENG
FERIA FLORITA FALCON FERDIE
GORIO GARDO * GORING GENER
HUANING HENRY HANNA HELEN
ISANG INDAY INENG IGME
JOLINA JOSIE * JENNY JULIAN
KIKO KARDING KABAYAN KAREN
LANNIE LUIS LIWAYWAY * LAWIN
MARING MAYMAY * MARILYN MARCE
NANDO NENENG NONOY NINA
ODETTE OMPONG ONYOK OFEL
PAOLO PAENG PERLA PEPITO
QUEDAN QUEENIE QUIEL QUINTA
RAMIL ROSITA * RAMON ROLLY
SALOME SAMUEL * SARAH SIONY
TINO TOMAS TISOY TONYO
URDUJA USMAN URSULA ULYSSES
VINTA VENUS VIRING VICKY
WILMA WALDO WENG WARREN
YASMIN YAYANG YOYOY YOYONG
ZORAIDA ZENY ZIGZAG ZOSIMO
 Auxiliary List
1 2 3 4

ALAMID AGILA ABE ALAKDAN

BRUNO BAGWIS BERTO BALDO
CONCHING CHITO CHARO CLARA
DOLOR DIEGO DADO DENCIO
ERNIE ELENA ESTOY ESTONG
FLORANTE FELINO FELION FELIPE
GERARDO GUNDING GENING GARDO
HERNAN HARRIET HERMAN HELING
ISKO INDANG IRMA ISMAEL
JEROME JESSA JAIME JULIO
TRACK ME! September 11:
• 16°24’N 135°42’E
• 17°00’N 133°48’E
• 17°18’N 133°06’E
September 12:
• 17°36’N 131°42’E
• 17°58’N 130°21’E
• 18°19’48”N 133°06’E
September 13:
• 19°25’12”N 126°06’36”E
• 20°10’48”N 124°07’48”E
• 20°18’36”N 123°29’24”E
• 20°25’48”N 122°54’00”E
September 14:
• 20°49’48”N 121°49’48”E
• 21°21’48” 120°48’00”E
• 22°00’36”N 120°18’00”E
 This Presentation is prepared by

“Jayson C. Tenerife”

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