Typhoon Season Philippines 2026 —
PAGASA Signals, Dates & What To Do

Typhoon season in the Philippines officially runs from June to November, with the most active period between September and October. However, typhoons can and do occur outside this window — as early as January and as late as December. The Philippines is one of the most typhoon-prone nations on Earth, with an average of 20 tropical cyclones entering or forming within Philippine waters each year, of which roughly 8–9 make landfall.

PAGASA Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) #1 is issued when a typhoon or tropical storm could bring winds of 30–60 kph with gusts up to 75 kph within the next 36 hours. During Signal #1, classes may be suspended in some areas at the discretion of LGUs, but there is generally no immediate danger. Residents should monitor PAGASA updates closely, prepare their go-bag, and identify their evacuation route in case the storm intensifies and a higher signal is raised.

During Signal #3, a destructive typhoon is expected to bring winds of 121–170 kph within 18 hours. You should:

1. Be ready to evacuate the moment your LGU or barangay orders it — do not wait.
2. Grab your go-bag with documents, medications, water, food, and cash.
3. Move to your designated evacuation center immediately if you are in a flood-prone, coastal, or landslide-risk area.
4. Avoid rivers, esteros, and low-lying roads — flash floods can occur rapidly.
5. Stay indoors away from windows if you cannot evacuate; move to the strongest part of the building.

Do not underestimate Signal #3. Historically, many typhoon fatalities in the Philippines occur when people delay evacuation.

Based on PAGASA historical data, an average of 20 tropical cyclones enter or develop within the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) each year. Of these, approximately 8 to 9 make landfall on Philippine territory. The country's location in the Western Pacific places it directly in the path of some of the world's most powerful tropical storms. Luzon — particularly the Bicol region, Eastern Samar, and the Cagayan Valley — bears the brunt of the most frequent landfalls.

A super typhoon is defined as a tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of at least 150 mph (240 kph) or 130 knots, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC). In PAGASA's warning system, a super typhoon triggers Signal #5 — the highest level — indicating catastrophic wind speeds exceeding 220 kph with gusts above 285 kph. The most devastating super typhoon in recorded history was Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which made landfall in Eastern Visayas on November 8, 2013, with sustained winds of 315 kph and a massive storm surge that killed over 6,300 Filipinos.

The best way to stay informed during typhoon season in the Philippines:

• Call 1555 — the PAGASA hotline, free from all networks, 24/7 during active weather disturbances.
• Visit bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph — PAGASA's official website for tropical cyclone bulletins, signal maps, and rainfall advisories.
• Listen to AM/FM radio — particularly DZRH (666 AM), DZMM (630 AM), or your local station, which broadcast PAGASA bulletins every 6 hours (more frequently during active typhoons).
• Monitor NDRRMC social media — official updates are posted on the NDRRMC Facebook page during declared calamities.
• Use ProjectLIGTAS — our live disaster map shows real-time community flood reports and emergency incidents in Metro Manila.
• Follow your LGU / barangay — local officials coordinate evacuation orders and relief distribution. Get your barangay captain's number ahead of time.

Storm surge is a deadly wall of ocean water pushed onshore by a typhoon's winds and low atmospheric pressure — and it is the leading cause of typhoon deaths in the Philippines. It is not the same as a flood from rainfall.

During Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, storm surge waves reached up to 7 meters high — taller than a 2-story building — killing thousands in Eastern Samar and Leyte in minutes. Surge can travel several kilometers inland along coastlines and rivers.

If you live within 1–3 kilometers of the coastline and a Signal 3 or higher typhoon is approaching: evacuate to high ground immediately. Do not assume a concrete building will protect you. Height above sea level, not building materials, determines survival in a storm surge.

The Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is the defined area of the Western Pacific Ocean that PAGASA monitors for tropical cyclone activity — roughly bounded by 5°N–25°N latitude and 115°E–135°E longitude, covering approximately 1,070,000 square kilometers.

When a tropical cyclone enters or forms within the PAR, PAGASA assigns it a Filipino name (e.g., Carina, Pepito, Igme). Outside the PAR, typhoons use international names from the Japan Meteorological Agency. PAGASA issues its bulletins and Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals only for storms within or about to enter the PAR.

PAGASA classifies tropical cyclones by maximum sustained wind speed (10-minute average at the surface):

Tropical Depression	Below 63 kph
Tropical Storm	63–88 kph
Severe Tropical Storm	89–117 kph
Typhoon	118–220 kph
Super Typhoon	Above 220 kph

Even tropical depressions can cause deadly floods and landslides in the Philippines, especially when they interact with the southwest monsoon (habagat). Never ignore a weather advisory regardless of the storm's classification.

A well-built concrete house may withstand Signal 3 wind damage, but building material does not protect you from the real killers in strong typhoons:

• Storm surge — coastal storm surge can overtop any ground-floor concrete structure
• Flash flooding — rivers and creeks can rise meters in minutes, flooding even upper floors
• Landslides — hillside homes can be buried regardless of construction type
• Roof failure — concrete walls survive but roofs often fail in Signal 4–5 winds, exposing occupants

Rule of thumb: When your LGU or barangay orders mandatory evacuation, follow it — regardless of your building's construction. Staying behind "because the house is concrete" is the most common reason for preventable typhoon deaths in the Philippines.

After a typhoon, the following government assistance programs are available to affected Filipinos:

• DSWD AICS — Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation: food packs, cash assistance (up to ₱5,000–₱15,000), and emergency shelter kits. Register with your barangay immediately.
• NDRRMC / LGU Relief — food, water, hygiene kits, and temporary shelter coordinated through your local DRRMO.
• PhilHealth — covers hospitalization for typhoon-related injuries at accredited hospitals under the Z Benefit Package and Konsulta Program.
• SSS Calamity Loan — up to 1 month salary for SSS members in a declared calamity area. Apply online at my.SSS.gov.ph.
• GSIS Emergency Loan — for government employees in a declared calamity area, up to ₱20,000.
• Pag-IBIG Calamity Loan — up to 80% of your Pag-IBIG Regular Savings for members in a declared calamity area.

Important: Document all damage with photos before cleaning up. Report to your barangay within 72 hours of the typhoon to be included in NDRRMC's affected families list.