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The dry season is also subdivided into the cool dry season
from December to February and the hot dry season from
March to May.
The entire country, however, may be characterized
by four types or classifications (Figure 1) of climate based
on the distribution of rainfall.
Type I—has two pronounced seasons: dry from
November to April and wet throughout the rest of the
year. The western parts of Luzon, Mindoro, Negros, and
Palawan experience this climate. These areas are shielded
by mountain ranges but are open to rains brought in by
Habagat and tropical cyclones.
Type II—characterized by the absence of a dry
season but with a very pronounced maximum rain period
from November to January. Regions with this climate are
along or very near the eastern coast (Catanduanes,
Sorsogon, eastern part of Albay, eastern and northern
parts of Camarines Norte and Sur, eastern part of Samar,
and large portions of Eastern Mindanao).
Type III—seasons are not very pronounced but are
relatively dry from November to April and wet during the
rest of the year. Areas under this type include the western
part of Cagayan, Isabela, parts of Northern Mindanao, and
most of Eastern Palawan. These areas are partly sheltered
from tradewinds but are open to Habagat and are
frequented by tropical cyclones.
Type IV—characterized by a more or less even
distribution of rainfall throughout the year. Areas with this
climate include Batanes, Northeastern Luzon, Southwest
Camarines Norte, west of Camarines Sur, Albay, Northern
Cebu, Bohol, and most of Central, Eastern, and Southern
Mindanao. (Economic Issue of the Day Vol. V, No. 2-July 2005)
Tropical cyclone signals: bracing
for the wind
Typhoons, tropical storms, tropical depressions, and
other weather disturbances are usual occurrences
in the Philippines. According to the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA), an average of 19–20 tropical
cyclones visit the country every year, some of which may
cause deaths to many people and millions of pesos in
damaged property.
But how strong can tropical cyclones be and how
much damage can they cause What is their pattern of
occurrence
These questions are important to consider especially
for a typhoon-frequented country like the Philippines so
In meteorology, a tropical cyclone is a low-pressure system
wherein the central region is warmer than the surrounding
atmosphere. Its strongest winds are concentrated close to its
center. From pictures taken above the earth, a tropical cyclone
resembles a huge whirlpool of white clouds.
Tropical cyclone is the general term for all storm circulations
that originate over tropical waters. It is called hurricane over
the Atlantic Ocean, cyclone over the Indian Ocean, and typhoon
over the Pacific Ocean.
that one can be better prepared to deal with them and
thereupon prevent possible damages and loss of lives.
In a nutshell, the various terms listed herein are
actually interchangeable, depending on the intensity of
the weather disturbance and location. By international
agreement, tropical cyclone is the general term for all
storm circulations that originate over tropical waters. It is
called hurricane over the Atlantic Ocean, cyclone over the
Indian Ocean and typhoon over the Pacific Ocean.
In meteorology, a tropical cyclone is a low-pressure
system wherein the central region is warmer than the
surrounding atmosphere. Its strongest winds are
concentrated close to its center. From pictures taken
above the earth, a tropical cyclone resembles a huge
whirlpool of white clouds. It has a disc-like shape with a
vertical scale of tens of kilometers against horizontal
dimensions of hundreds of kilometers.
Types of tropical cyclones
Tropical cyclones are categorized into three types:
• Tropical depression – a tropical cyclone with
maximum surface winds ranging from 37 to 62
kilometers per hour (kph) (20 to 33 knots).
• Tropical storm – a tropical cyclone with maximum