Pagasa revises definition of ‘super typhoon,’ signal system

Photo from PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines —  The state weather bureau adopted revised its definitions for “super typhoon’ and its tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS) effective on Wednesday — in time for the commemoration of the 157th National Meteorological Day and the 72nd World Meteorological Day .

A “super typhoon” has a maximum sustained wind of at least 185 kph, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

This is lower than its previous definition — which was introduced in 2015 — where it had to have a maximum sustained wind of more than 220 kph.

Pagasa made the following modifications to its TCWS:

• Signal No. 1: from 30 to 60 kph to 39 to 61 kph
• Signal No. 2: from 61-120 kph to 62 to 88 kph
• Signal No. 3: from 121 to 170 kph to 89 to 117 kph
• Signal No. 4: from 171 to 220 kph to 118 to 184 kph.
• Signal No 5: from greater than 220 kph to 185 kph or higher

“With this change, TCWS systems are now based on the global Beaufort’s scale used by the World Meteorological Organization,” Pagasa said in a statement.

Pagasa also decommissioned the names of three destructive typhoons in 2021 (Jolina, Maring, and Odette).

Starting 2025, they will be replaced with Jacinto, Mirasol, and Opong, respectively.

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