The relentless march of storms that tested PH preparedness

Graphics by: Lance Uy

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines is no stranger to typhoons with a total of 17 tropical cyclones entering or affecting the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) in 2024.

The relentless march of disasters from Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami) to Super Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi) challenged the nation’s preparedness like never before in a span of only a month, with mere days for the country to breathe.

At the peak of wet season, four active tropical cyclones formed in the Western Pacific Ocean, threatening the Philippines: Typhoons Marce (Yinxing), Nika (Toraji), Ofel (Usagi) and Pepito.

The United States-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) said the phenomenon of four storms forming simultaneously in the region in November was unseen since the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) began keeping records.

Scientists at the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network found that human-induced climate change intensified the brutal impact of typhoons that battered the country.

READ: Climate change intensified rapid succession of PH storms – study

Here’s a look back at the challenges dumped by tropical cyclones in the country in 2024:

Typhoon Aghon (May 24-29, 2024)

The year’s first tropical cyclone, Aghon (International name: Ewiniar), entered PAR on May 24. Making nine landfalls, it wreaked havoc on various parts of Visayas and Southern Luzon. Its first landfall occurred in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, around 11:20 p.m. on the same day.

By May 29, it had exited PAR, leaving 51,569 people affected, eight injured, and seven dead. Agriculture also suffered P21.65 million in losses, with over 292 hectares of farmland devastated.

Tropical Depression Butchoy (July 19-20, 2024)

Butchoy (International name: Prapiroon) briefly developed into a tropical depression while inside PAR on July 19 and exited the next day. Although it did not directly cause significant damage to the country, it paved the way for a turbulent July combined with the effects of the southwest monsoon.

Super Typhoon Carina (July 21-25, 2024)

Carina (International name: Gaemi), the third tropical cyclone of the year, intensified into a super typhoon on July 24. It enhanced the southwest monsoon, resulting in record-breaking rainfall of 471 millimeters in Metro Manila from July 24 to 25. This surpassed the 24-hour rainfall record of 455 millimeters set by Typhoon Ondoy in 2009.

FILE PHOTO: Marikina River level as of 11:30 a.m., September 2, 2024. | PHOTO: Photo screengrab from Marikina City Rescue Livestream on Facebook

Water level in Marikina River reached 20.7 meters during Carina’s onslaught, prompting the local government to raise the third alarm. Widespread flooding also led Metro Manila to declare a state of calamity.

Carina contributed to a combined death toll of 46, alongside Butchoy and the southwest monsoon, according to the NDRRMC.

Tropical Storm Dindo (August 18-19, 2024)

A short-lived tropical cyclone, Dindo (International name: Jongdari) formed as a tropical depression on August 18 and quickly intensified into a tropical storm by the morning of August 19. It exited PAR by noon the same day, causing minimal impact compared to the storms that followed.

Severe Tropical Storm Enteng (September 1-4, 2024)

Enteng (International name: Yagi) made landfall in Casiguran, Aurora on September 2 and intensified into a severe tropical storm before exiting PAR on September 4. NDRRMC previously reported that it left 12 dead, seven missing, and extensive damage in its wake.

Tropical Storm Ferdie (September 13-14, 2024)

Ferdie (International name: Bebinca), the sixth tropical cyclone, entered PAR on September 13, bringing heavy rains and strong winds that devastated agriculture with P600.84 million in losses. Alongside the enhanced southwest monsoon, it affected 203,197 individuals and contributed to a death toll of 20, including casualties from its succeeding tropical cyclone Gener.

Tropical Depression Gener (September 16-18, 2024)

Gener (International name: Soulik) made landfall in Palanan, Isabela, on September 16. It compounded the devastation left by Ferdie, bringing the combined death toll of the two typhoons to 20 and affecting thousands of families in Northern Luzon. It exited PAR two days after its Isabela landfall.

Tropical Storm Helen (September 18-19, 2024)

Helen (International name: Pulasan) briefly entered PAR, enhancing the southwest monsoon but without directly impacting any part of the country, according to the state weather bureau. It exited PAR on September 19.

Tropical Depression Igme (September 20-21, 2024)

Igme (International name: 17W), the ninth cyclone to enter PAR, developed into a tropical depression on September 20.This prompted Pagasa to hoist Signal No. 1 warning over Batanes, before Igme exited PAR on September 21.

Super Typhoon Julian (September 27-October 4, 2024)

Julian (International name: Krathon) intensified into a super typhoon on October 1, raising Signal No. 4 in Batanes. It exited PAR twice—first as a super typhoon on October 1 and as a low-pressure area on October 4. NDRRMC said it displaced 149,293 individuals, while the Department of Agriculture (DA) noted P481.27 million in agricultural losses. Impacts of the super typhoon also led Ilocos Norte to declare a state of calamity on October 2.

Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (October 21-25, 2024)

Similar to Carina, Kristine (International name: Trami) brought record-breaking rainfall to Daet, Camarines Norte, also surpassing Ondoy’s levels in 2009. Pagasa reported that Kristine brought 528.5 mm of rain to Daet within 24 hours on October 22. This amount exceeded the area’s normal monthly rainfall of 489.6 mm in just one day.

To further assess the damage brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday, October 25, conducts an aerial inspection in the National Capital Region, Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas. (Photos courtesy of MPC Pool)

According to Pagasa, Kristine also brought heavy rains and strong winds to areas outside its landfall zone in Isabela, including many parts of the Bicol Region. It caused catastrophic flooding, affected over 7.1 million people, and led to P5 billion in agricultural losses. With 14 validated deaths out of 125 reported, it became one of the most destructive storms of the year.

Super Typhoon Leon (October 26-November 1, 2024)

Leon (International name: Kong-rey) reached super typhoon status on October 30, prompting Signal No. 5 in parts of Batanes. Heavy rains caused widespread damage in Northern Luzon before it weakened and exited PAR on November 1 as a severe tropical storm.

According to the NDRRMC, the combined effects of Typhoon Kristine and Typhoon Leon resulted in a death toll of 160 as of November 10, with over 9.6 million affected individuals.

Typhoon Marce (November 4-8, 2024)

Marce (International name: Yinxing) was the first typhoon to enter PAR in November; it immediately intensified into a typhoon a day after its entry on November 4.
It made two landfalls in Cagayan on November 7—the first in Sta. Ana and the second in Sanchez-Mira later that evening. The typhoon affected 261,787 individuals, mostly in Northern Luzon, before exiting PAR on November 8, leaving one casualty in its wake.

Typhoon Nika (November 9-12, 2024)

Nika (International name: Toraji), the second cyclone to enter PAR in November, rapidly intensified after entering as a tropical depression on November 9. By the morning of November 10, it had strengthened into a severe tropical storm and further developed into a typhoon by that evening.
It brought heavy rains to Luzon, making landfall in Dilasag, Aurora, on November 11. It displaced over 4.2 million individuals and contributed to a combined death toll of 13 with succeeding typhoons Ofel and Pepito.

Super Typhoon Ofel (November 12-16, 2024)

Ofel (International name: Usagi) entered PAR on the same day that Nika exited. Its intensification was swift, as it quickly developed into a severe tropical storm by the evening of the same day it entered PAR.

It then reached super typhoon status and made landfall in Baggao, Cagayan, on November 14, bringing torrential rains and widespread floods in Northern Luzon. It reentered PAR as a tropical storm on November 16 before finally exiting the Philippine landmass.

RELATED: Pagasa explains why recent typhoons tend to only hit Northern Luzon

Super Typhoon Pepito (November 14-18, 2024)

Pepito (International name: Man-yi)  is the second-to-last cyclone to enter the country as of this writing and the last to hit in November. It made its first landfall in Panganiban, Catanduanes, on November 16, bringing violent winds and intense to torrential rains to Albay, Camarines provinces, many areas in Luzon including Metro Manila, and parts of Eastern Visayas.

Pepito intensified into a super typhoon on November 16 and made its second landfall the day after in Dipaculao, Aurora. It struck Catanduanes and Aurora with Signal No. 5 raised in multiple areas. Intense rains also caused severe flooding and landslides in Albay and Camarines Sur, displacing 852,475 individuals as of November 17. It exited PAR on November 18.

Tropical Depression Querubin (December 17-19, 2024)

Querubin began as a low-pressure area (LPA) east of Mindanao. It intensified into a tropical depression on December 17, prompting the state weather bureau to raise Signal No. 1 in Davao Oriental and later in Surigao del Sur.

Querubin weakened into an LPA on December 18. It drenched parts of Southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao during its forecast period. The LPA dissipated on December 21.

Tropical Depression Romina (December 20-26, 2024)

Despite not entering the PAR, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) named the most recent tropical cyclone “Romina” (international name: Pabuk) as it had affected areas within the country’s landmass. This marks the first time since Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 that Pagasa has named a weather disturbance outside the country’s boundaries.

Pagasa reported that TCWS No. 1 had been raised over Kalayaan Islands in Palawan as Romina advanced toward the southern part of the region during its forecast period. It also brought heavy rains to Quezon and Bicol provinces. However, as Romina moved toward Vietnam, it no longer directly affected Kalayaan Islands, leading to the lifting of all wind signals by morning of December 23.

RELATED: TD Romina gets named though still outside PAR

How challenging times changed the way we talk about weather

Drastic changes and unpredictable shifts in the country’s weather patterns have pushed Pagasa to continuously improve how it delivers weather updates.

These efforts aim to ensure that Filipinos are better equipped to face the increasing severity and frequency of weather disturbances.

Despite these improvements, one challenge lies in ensuring that the public fully understands and acts on these warnings.

Weather specialist Benison Estareja told INQUIRER.net that public complacency often stems from a lack of direct experience with certain phenomena, such as storm surges or the effects of a shear line.

“Hangga’t hindi siya nakakaapekto sa atin, hindi natin fully maintindihan talaga yung isang term,” Estareja explained.

(Until it directly affects us, we cannot fully grasp the meaning of a particular term.)

The rapid succession of typhoons in 2024 further highlighted these challenges, as each storm brought unique impacts that required tailored advisories and preparedness measures.

For instance, Severe Tropical Storm Kristine provided a valuable lesson on the importance of readiness even in areas outside a storm’s direct path.

READ: Remulla: Preemptive evacuation a ‘lesson’ from Storm Kristine

“I think yung nagiging trend na ng Pagasa regarding sa bagyo is that kahit ang bagyo ay hindi tatama sa isang lugar, they have to be prepared as well kasi possible pa rin silang maapektuhan ng mga pag-ulan,” Estareja noted.

(I think the trend with Pagasa now is that even if a tropical cyclone won’t make landfall in a certain area, people still need to be prepared because they can still be affected by rainfall.)

“At ‘yun nga ‘yung naging lesson sa lahat regarding dito kay bagyong Kristine, na even if hindi talaga siya technically tumama or nag-landfall dito sa Bicol Region, nagdala pa rin siya ng grabeng ulan dito sa may parteng Bicol at sa mga kalapit pa na lugar sa may southern Bicol,” Estareja added, underscoring how indirect impacts can still devastate communities.

(And that’s the lesson everyone learned from Typhoon Kristine: that even though it didn’t technically make landfall in the Bicol Region, it still brought heavy rains to parts of Bicol and nearby areas in southern Bicol.)

From the torrential rains of Kristine to the widespread floods caused by Pepito, the series of disasters tested not only Pagasa’s forecasting capabilities but also its ability to convey urgent warnings to the public.

Innovations to weather reporting and communication

Ultimately, this year underscored the critical role of clear and timely communication in reducing the loss of life and property during natural disasters.

To address these, Pagasa adjusted its strategies, introducing more frequent updates and collaborative efforts like the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment meetings with agencies such as the Office of Civil Defense and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Ang focus talaga ng agency at buong government is when it comes to impact-base, malaman ng mga tao kung ano ang mararanasan nila, more than kung ano ang dapat nilang malaman regarding sa weather. Kung ano ang mararanasan nila, more than kung ano nga ba yung weather,” Estareja emphasized.

(The focus of the agency and the entire government is on impact-based information, making sure that people know what they will experience, rather than just the technical details of the weather. It’s more about what they will feel and experience, rather than just knowing the weather conditions.)

Pagasa also made significant efforts to educate the public about weather concepts. Terms like “shear line,” which were once unfamiliar to many Filipinos, have become more commonplace.

“On my end, lagi kong dinedefine ang shear line tapos dinedefine pa rin ang possible impacts ng shear line,” he said.

(On my end, I always make sure to clearly define the shear line and explain its possible impacts.)

Estareja likewise noted that Pagasa’s consistent information, education, and communication campaigns (IEC) played a crucial role in bridging gaps in understanding.

“Lagi kaming nagkakaroon ng IEC which is the information campaigns on awareness of tropical cyclones for example at saka yung mga possible impacts niya, yung mga pagbaha, heavy rainfall, storm surge meron pa rin naman,” he explained.

(We always conduct information campaigns (IEC) to raise awareness about tropical cyclones, for example, and their possible impacts such as flooding, heavy rainfall, and storm surges, which still remain a concern.)

Estareja emphasized the importance of continuous public engagement through these awareness campaigns, noting that people often forget lessons learned from past disasters.

According to the weather specialist, these efforts target not only older generations but also younger ones who are eager to learn and stay informed.

Looking ahead, Pagasa continues to refine its approach, ensuring that even areas outside a typhoon’s direct path remain vigilant.

RELATED: Pagasa to tap AI for more frequent, longer-term weather forecasts

The agency’s three-day rainfall forecasts and impact-based advisories aim to bridge the gaps in public understanding, equipping communities with actionable information to mitigate risks.

As the country braces for more unpredictable weather patterns, the lessons of 2024 serve as a stark reminder of the importance of preparedness and proactive communication.

Estareja stressed, “Even if hindi tatama sa isang lugar ang bagyo, they have to be prepared as well kasi possible pa rin silang maapektuhan ng mga pag-ulan.”

(Even if the tropical cyclone does not make landfall in a specific area, they still have to be prepared because they could still be affected by heavy rainfall.)

With these lessons, Pagasa aims not just to predict the weather but to foster a culture of readiness that can withstand the storms of the future.