Weather

The Philippines' climate, warm and humid year-round, is considered one of the world's healthiest tropical climates.  There are two pronounced seasons—dry and wet.

The climate varies somewhat by region.  Between January and May, the climate is generally dry with only occasional rain showers. This changes with the onset of the wet season in June and which peaks in July and August and then falls off slowly to the end of the year.  General daytime temperatures range 30-36° C and nighttime temperature 21-24° C.  The mean temperature is 25.5° C in January and 28.3° C in May, with an annual mean of 26.7° C.  Relative humidity varies from 71% in March to 85% in September.

During the wettest months rain is an almost daily occurrence. Consequently the climate becomes a lot more humid at this time albeit slightly cooler.  Rainfall is relatively high, but regional contrasts are dramatic, depending on the size and position of an island, the location of mountain ranges, and direction of moisture-bearing winds.  Precipitation is highest where these winds strike the mountains, lowest in their lee.  Outside the rainy season, it tends to come in short, sharp showers.  Flash flooding is increasingly common during the rainy season in the Philippines, due to erosion of the topsoil and deforestation.

The Philippines have a wide array of different kinds of weather patterns.  Many of these include some weather factors that have a potential for danger.  Proper precautions will avoid injury and increase safety for you and your family.  Typhoons are quite common in the Philippines.  The following information will help prepare for typhoons and ensure safety.

 Typhoons

A typhoon is a tropical storm of damaging proportion.  In the United States they are known as hurricanes while in Australia they are called cyclones.  Commonly it is believed that the word derives from the Chinese Tai-fung meaning “big wind.”  Others claim its origin is Greek-Arabic from tuphõn or “whirlwind.” 

Typhoons can hit at any time of the year but are most likely to occur in the Philippines from July to October. 

In the Philippines, four signals are hoisted progressively at the onset of a typhoon: 

• Signal #1 signifies a threat of an approaching typhoon or tropical depression within thirty-six hours.

• Signal #2 indicates the likelihood of a typhoon within twenty-four hours.

• Signal #3 means that a typhoon is expected within eighteen hours.

• Signal #4 is used to denote a direct hit by a typhoon within twelve hours.

 As soon as the first typhoon signal is raised you should begin preparations.  Quite often the approach of a typhoon will bring heavy rains and render roads – even arterial roads within the metropolitan area impassable. 

Quire often power outages occur during storms.  These outages can last from minutes to several days.  On occasion, water supply can also be interrupted.

 Once the Number 3 signal is raised, schooling is suspended and government offices are usually closed.  Private business takes its cue from government announcements. 

Two radio stations provide regular typhoon and road conditions: radio DZHP at AM 1130 KHz and FM station WLS at 97 MHz.  Cable TV channel ANC – Channel 21 also broadcasts regular news bulletins updating typhoon information.

 The Philippines is situated on an active plate fault (the Philippines Plate) and as a consequence, seismic and volcanic activity is common and can sometimes be devastating. Tidal waves and flooding are among the other natural hazards that have to be factored into daily life.