The country’s weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, and Geophysical Services Administration (PAGASA) formally introduced a new cyclone category and adding another level to the current public storm warning signals.
Esperanza Cayanan, the weather division chief of PAGASA announced that the agency will now use the new “super typhoon” and “severe tropical storm” cyclone classifications and the additional Signal No. 5 which started this month.
Here’s the New Cyclone Classifications and their Wind Speeds:
Tropical depression (TD) – 61 kilometers per hour
Tropical storm (TS) – 62 to 88 kph
Severe tropical storm (STS) – 89 to 117 kph
Typhoon – 118 to 220 kph
Super typhoon (STY) – at least 220 kph
Aside from the New Cyclone Classifications, PAGASA also announced the addition of a fifth level to the Storm Warning System, PAGASA noted that the following wind velocities are expected in the following storm signals:
Signal no. 1 – 30 to 60 kph in the next 36 hours
Signal no. 2 – 61 to 120 kph within 24 hours
Signal no. 3 – 121 to 170 kph within 18 hours
Signal no. 4 – 171 to 220 kph within 12 hours
Signal no. 5 – 220 kph or more within 12 hours