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The Philippine Public Storm Warning Signals

Public Storm Signal No.1

Meterological Conditions:

  • A tropical cyclone will affect the locality. 
  • Winds of 30-60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours. (When the tropical cyclone develops very close to the locality a shorter lead time of the occurrence of the winds will be specified in the warning bulletin.
Impact of Winds:
  • Twigs and branches of small trees may be broken. 
  • Some banana plants may be tilted or downed. 
  • Some houses of very light materials (nipa and cogon) may be partially unroofed. 
  • Unless this warning signal is upgraded during the entire existence of the tropical cyclone, only very light or no damage at all may be sustained by the exposed communities. 
  • Rice crop, however, may suffer significant damage when it is in its flowering stage. 
Precautionary Measures:
  • When the tropical cyclone is strong or is intensifying and is moving closer, this signal may be upgraded to the next higher level. 
  • The waves on coastal waters may gradually develop and become bigger and higher. 
  • The people are advised to listen to the latest severe weather bulletin issued by PAGASA every six hours. In the meantime, business may be carried out as usual except when flood occur. 
  • Disaster preparedness is activated to alert status. 
Public Storm Signal No.2



Meterological Conditions:
  • A tropical cyclone will affect the the locality. 
  • Winds of greater than 60 kph and up to 100 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours. 
Impact of Winds:
  • Some coconut trees may be tilted with few others broken. 
  • Few big trees may be uprooted. 
  • Many banana plants may be downed. 
  • Rice and corn may be adversely affected. 
  • Large number of nipa and cogon houses may be partially or totally unroofed. 
  • Some old galvanized iron roofings may be peeled off. 
  • In general, the winds may bring light to moderate damage to the exposed communities.
Precautionary Measures:
  • The sea and coastal waters are dangerous to small seacrafts 
  • Special attention should be given to the latest position, the direction and speed of movement and the intensity of the storm as it may intensify and move towards the locality. 
  • The general public especially people travelling by sea and air are cautioned to avoid unnecessary risks. 
  • Outdoor activities of children should be postponed. 
  • Secure properties before the signal is upgraded. 
  • Disaster preparedness agencies / organizations are in action to alert their communities. 
Public Storm Signal No.3

Meterological Conditions: 

  • A tropical cyclone will affect the locality. 
  • Winds of greater than 100 kph up to 185 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours.
Impact of Winds:
  • Many coconut trees may be broken or destroyed. 
  • Almost all banana plants may be downed and a large number of trees may be uprooted. 
  • Rice and corn crops may suffer heavy losses. 
  • Majority of all nipa and cogon houses may be unroofed or destroyed and there may be considerable damage to structures of light to medium construction. 
  • There may be widespread disruption of electrical power and communication services. 
  • In general, moderate to heavy damage may be experienced, particularly in the agricultural and industrial sectors. 
Precautionary Measures:
  • The disturbance is dangerous to the communities threatened/affected. 
  • The sea and coastal waters will be very dangerous to all seacrafts. 
  • Travel is very risky especially by sea and air. 
  • People are advised to seek shelter in strong buildings, evacuate low-lying areas and to stay away from the coasts and river banks. 
  • Watch out for the passage of the "eye" of the typhoon indicated by a sudden occurrence of fair weather immediately after very bad weather with very strong winds coming gnerally from the north. 
  • When the "eye" of the typhoon hit the community do not venture away from the safe shelter because after one to two hours the worst weather will resume with the very strong winds coming from the south. 
  • Classes in all levels should be suspended and children should stay in the safety of strong buildings. Disaster preparedness and response agencies/organizations are in action with appropriate response to actual emergency. 
Public Storm Signal No.4


Meterological Conditions:
  • A very intense typhoon will affect the locality. 
  • Very strong winds of more than 185 kph may be expected in at least 12 hours. 
Impact of Winds:
  • Coconut plantation may suffer extensive damage. 
  • Many large trees may be uprooted. 
  • Rice and corn plantation may suffer severe losses. 
  • Most residential and institutional buildings of mixed construction may be severely damaged. 
  • Electrical power distribution and communication services may be severely disrupted. 
  • In the overall, damage to affected communities can be very heavy. 
Precautionary Measures: 
  • The situation is potentially very destructive to the community. 
  • All travels and outdoor activities should be cancelled. 
  • Evacuation to safer shelters should have been completed since it may be too late under this situation. 
  • With PSWS #4, the locality is very likely to be hit directly by the eye of the typhoon. As the eye of the typhoon approaches, the weather will continuously worsen with the winds increasing to its strongest coming generally from the north. Then a sudden improvement of the weather with light winds (a lull) will be experienced. This means that the eye of the typhoon is over the locality. This improved weather may last for one to two hours depending on the diameter of the eye and the speed of movement. As the eye moves out of the locality, the worst weather experienced before the lull will suddenly commence. This time the very strong winds will come generally from the south. 
  • The disaster coordinating councils concerned and other disaster response organizations are now fully responding to emergencies and in full readiness to immediately respond to possible calamity. 

My Insights & Reflections:
  • Today, I learned that Storm Warning Signals are the storm signals that are usually raised when an area is about to be hit by a tropical cyclone. As a tropical cyclone gains strength and/or gets nearer to an area having a storm signal, the warning may be upgraded to a higher one in that particular area. Conversely, as a tropical cyclone weakens and/or gets farther to an area, it may be downgraded to a lower signal or may be lifted (that is, an area will have no storm signal). Classes for preschool are canceled when Signal #1 is in effect. High school classes and below are canceled under Signal #2 and classes for colleges and universities and below are canceled under Signal #3. 
  • I will apply my learning about this in my daily life for the possibility to raise this storm signal into our area. 
  • Learning about this phenomenon is important because this lesson can help us to be ready and responsible for any effect of this storm signals. 
  • On larger scale, I will share my learnings about this phenomenon to my family, my classmates and to any other people for to them to be also ready and knowledgeable of the affect of this phenomenon. 
  • I need to know more about this because this information is not enough for me to be ready in this phenomenon.

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