This article is about the tropical cyclone warning system used in the Philippines. For the similarly named warning system in Hong Kong, see Hong Kong tropical cyclone warning signals. For other tropical cyclone warning systems, see Tropical cyclone warnings and watches.
Map of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals hoisted in most of Luzon, Philippines due to Typhoon Noru (Karding) at 5:00 PM PhST on September 25, 2022
The Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals (TCWS, or simply wind signals or signals;[a] Filipino: Mga Babala ng Bagyo) are tropical cyclone alert levels issued by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to areas within the Philippines that may be affected by tropical cyclone winds and their associated hazards.[1]
PAGASA's TCWS system is activated when a tropical cyclone is inside or near the Philippine Area of Responsibility and is forecast to affect the Philippine archipelago. It is a tiered system that has five numbered levels, with higher numbers associated with higher wind speeds and shorter "lead times", which are time periods within which an expected range of wind strength is expected to occur.[1][2][3] TCWS signals are issued for specific localities (province or city/municipal level) and are escalated, de-escalated or lifted depending on the expected strength of winds and the movement of the tropical cyclone relative to the affected areas.[4][1]
The TCWS system is the consequence of decades of evolution of early warning systems for tropical cyclones in the Philippines. The very first tropical cyclone warning in the country was issued in July 1879, albeit it was in 1931 when the earliest formalized system of tropical cyclone warning was implemented by PAGASA's predecessor, the Philippine Weather Bureau.[5] In the late 20th century, this system gradually transformed into the more familiar four-tiered public storm warning signal system.[6] This was further subject to revisions after the catastrophic onslaught of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013, which prompted the addition of a fifth warning level to emphasize extreme tropical cyclone winds.[7][8] The current version of the TCWS was implemented in 2022.[9][10][11]
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
^ abc"Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Retrieved August 23, 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^PAGASA. "Philippine Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal". Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2022-06-30.
^PAGASA. "The Modified Philippine Public Storm Warning Signals". PAGASA Kidlat. Archived from the original on 2008-09-30. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
^Arceo, Acor (December 3, 2019). "Why is it now called tropical cyclone 'wind' – and not 'warning' – signals?". Rappler. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
^"Annual Report on Philippine Tropical Cyclones (2017)" (PDF). Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration. March 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
^Esperanza O. Cayanan (July 20, 2015). "The Philippines modified its Tropical Cyclone Warning System" (PDF). World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
^de la Cruz, Gwen (May 21, 2015). "PAGASA adds Storm Signal No. 5 to storm warning system". Rappler. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
^Sauler, Erika (May 21, 2015). "Pagasa adds storm signal No. 5 for supertyphoons". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
^"Press Release: DOST-PAGASA modifies Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) system". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). March 23, 2022. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
^Arceo, Acor (March 23, 2022). "PAGASA changes super typhoon definition, wind signals". Rappler. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
^Sarao, Zacarian (March 24, 2022). "Pagasa revises definition of 'super typhoon,' signal system". Inquirer.net. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
and 22 Related for: Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals information
tropicalcyclone warnings in the form of TropicalCycloneWindSignals (TCWS, or "windsignals"). Within this warning system, an area having a wind signal...
Kong tropicalcyclone warning signals, or informally typhoon signals, are a set of signals used to indicate the threat or effects of a tropicalcyclone. The...
Tropicalcyclones are ranked on one of five tropicalcyclone intensity scales, according to their maximum sustained winds and which tropicalcyclone basins...
"super typhoon" and its warning signals. An area having a storm signal may be under: Signal #1 – Tropicalcyclonewinds of 39 km/h (24 mph) to 61 km/h...
A tropicalcyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system with a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral...
Questions: What are the upcoming tropicalcyclone names?". NOAA. Retrieved December 11, 2006. "TropicalCycloneWindSignal". Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical...
During 2023, tropicalcyclones formed in seven major bodies of water, commonly known as tropicalcyclone basins. They were named by various weather agencies...
typhoon is a tropicalcyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere and which produces sustained hurricane-force winds of at least...
Intense TropicalCyclone Freddy, also known as Severe TropicalCyclone Freddy, was an exceptionally long-lived, powerful, and deadly tropicalcyclone that...
Climate change can affect tropicalcyclones in a variety of ways: an intensification of rainfall and wind speed, a decrease in overall frequency, an increase...
Severe Tropical Storm Nalgae, known in the Philippines as Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, was a very large and deadly tropicalcyclone that wreaked havoc...
During 2022, tropicalcyclones formed in seven major bodies of water, commonly known as tropicalcyclone basins. Tropicalcyclones were named by various...
The 1999 Odisha cyclone (IMD designation BOB 06, JTWC designation 05B) was the most intense recorded tropicalcyclone in the North Indian Ocean and among...
Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan (/ˈəmpʔən/) was an extremely powerful and catastrophic tropicalcyclone that caused widespread damage in Eastern India, specifically...
Philippine history behind Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Rai was a powerful rare tropicalcyclone that struck the Philippines in December 2021. Rai became the first...
as 17W. The system was expected to develop into a tropicalcyclone but was hindered by easterly wind shear and dry air. On the following day, the JTWC...
followed by the JTWC and later PAGASA, as the PAGASA raised Signal #3 tropicalcyclonewindsignals in preparation for the storm. At 14:30 UTC and 15:20 UTC...
Pacific typhoon season was the second consecutive to have below average tropicalcyclone activity, with twenty-two named storms, and was the least active since...
Hurricane Patricia was the most powerful tropicalcyclone on record worldwide in terms of maximum sustained winds and the second-most intense on record worldwide...
the strongest Northern Hemisphere tropicalcyclones on record in the month of May, and the strongest tropicalcyclone worldwide in 2023. The name "Mawar"...
Global Information
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
