HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS

1. Typhoon

Tropical storms, cyclones, hurricanes and

typhoons, although named differently, describe
the same disaster type. The system is referred to
as a "cyclone" in the Indian Ocean and South
Pacific, "hurricane" in the Western Atlantic and
Eastern Pacific and "typhoon" in the Western
Pacific. Essentially, typhoon refers to a large scale
closed circulation system in the atmosphere which
combines low pressure and strong winds that
rotate counter clockwise in the northern
hemisphere and clockwise in the southern
hemisphere.

According to Disaster Risk Reduction

FIGURE 1 – TYPHOON BISING BRINGING RAIN Knowledge Service (2010), typhoon is a
OVER BICOL REGION ON SUNDAY MORNING. destructive weather system with strong
destructive power, and its harmfulness mainly
has three aspects: one is the risk of high winds. The maximum wind force near the typhoon center is
above level 8, which can cause severe damage; second is rainstorm disaster (in areas where typhoons
have passed, they usually produce rain of 150mm~300mm, and a few typhoons can produce heavy
rainstorms more than 1,000 millimeters); third is storm surge.

2. Thunderstorm

A thunderstorm is generally defined as any storm that has thunder and lighting. In fact, a climatological
thunderstorm day is defined as any day on which
thunder is audible from an observing station, and
precipitation is not a required element. However,
thunderstorms almost always produce precipitation
along with the required thunder and lightning, and
many other aspects that can be hazardous.
Thunderstorms can produce damaging surface winds,
hail, heavy rain, and even extreme phenomena like
tornadoes.

Thunderstorms consist of deep convective clouds

FIGURE 2 – LIGHTING STRIKE ACCOMPANYING
that can produce large raindrops (2–8 mm
THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WITH HAILSTORM
diameter) within 5–10 km wide rain shafts that
EXPERIENCED IN ROSALES PANGASINAN ON
move horizontally across the ground with APRIL 30, 2019
precipitation that last from 1–20 minutes over a
fixed point. The rainfall rate may be heavy, as
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 HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS

much as 10 to 1000 mm of rain per hour. The cloud tops of thunderstorms extend far up in the
troposphere. In the upper parts of the clouds, ice-phase processes occur. Throughout the cloud, different
sizes of ice crystals and water droplets exist, and the heavier hydrometeors fall faster than the smaller
ones, sometimes colliding and collecting each other. If these heavier ice particles fall through regions of
supercooled droplets (liquid water droplets below freezing), they may grow through a process called
riming. The liquid water droplets instantly freeze and adhere on contact to the outside surface of falling
ice particles. This forms snow pellets called graupel, which are less than 5 mm in diameter.

3. Flashflood

A flash flood is a rapid flooding of low-lying areas:

washes, rivers, dry lakes and depressions. Flash
floods are distinguished from regular floods by
having a timescale of fewer than six hours between
rainfall and the onset of flooding.

Flash floods most often occur in dry areas that

have recently received precipitation, but they may
be seen anywhere downstream from the source of
the precipitation, even many miles from the source.
Flash floods develop in hilly and mountainous
terrains where the slope of the river is rather
FIGURE 3 – FLASH FLOODING FROM
steep. The rapid development of the flood is due
DECEMBER 18, 2011 KILLS OVER 1000,
to the extremely short concentration time of the
DISPLACES 100,000 IN THE PHILIPPINES
drainage catchment. This means that precipitation
falling on a point in the catchment farthest from
the river takes only a short time to reach the river channel and become part of streamflow. Thus, the
amount of streamflow rapidly increases and, consequently, the rise in water level. When the flow
capacity of the stream is exceeded, the channel overflows and the result is a flash flood.

Flash floods induce severe impacts in both the built and the natural environment. Especially within
urban areas, the effects of flash floods can be catastrophic and show extensive diversity, ranging from
damages in buildings and infrastructure to impacts on vegetation, human lives and livestock.

4. Flood

According to the Flood Forecasting Branch, the hydrological service of PAGASA, flood is an abnormal
progressive rise in the water level of a stream that may result in the overflowing by the water of the
normal confines of the stream with the subsequent inundation of areas which are not normally
submerged. The popular or layman's idea of flood is, in the strictest sense, the process of inundation or
the coverage by water of areas not normally submerged. Inundation is due to water overflowing from
streams and other bodies of water as well as by the accumulation of rainwater by drainage.

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FIGURE 4 – AN AERIAL VIEW OF HOUSES SUBMERGED FIGURE 5 – RESCUERS PULL A RUBBER BOAT
IN WATER AFTER TYPHOON VAMCO IN THE CAGAYAN CARRYING RESIDENTS THROUGH A FLOODED STREET
REGION, NORTHERN LUZON, PHILIPPINES, NOV. 14, AFTER TYPHOON VAMCO HIT IN MARIKINA CITY,
2020. SUBURBAN MANILA, NOV. 12, 2020. (AFP PHOTO)

Floods are among the most destructive calamities man has to cope with. Even the most minor flooding
poses some inconveniences. A really big flood can result in millions even billions of pesos of damages
to roads and bridges, buildings and other economic infrastructure, in the loss of agricultural crops and
livestocks, loss of productivity in industry, commerce and trade. To this is added the incalculable loss of
human lives directly attributable to floods as well as the hardship and attendant socioeconomic problems
of forced human displacement and the emotional impact on those affected by floods.

5. Storm surge

Storm Surge, also known as “Daluyong ng Bagyo” is the abnormal rise in sea level that occurs during
tropical cyclones or “bagyo”. It is caused by strong winds and low atmospheric pressures produced by
tropical cyclones. As the tropical cyclone approaches the coast, strong winds push the ocean water over
the low-lying coastal areas, which can lead to flooding. This makes storm surges very dangerous.

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Storm surge becomes more dangerous when it arrives on top of a high tide. When this happens, it may
flood areas that otherwise might have been dry or safe. On top of the storm surge, big and strong waves
generated by powerful winds also comes with it.

The Philippines has an average of twenty

tropical cyclones entering the Philippine Area
of Responsibility every year, with about six to
nine making landfall. In September 2011,
Typhoon Nesat (Pedring) passed about 200 km
north of Manila Bay with maximum sustained
wind speeds of 46.3 m/s (CAT 2), yet it was
one of the most destructive storms to affect the
coastal areas of Metro Manila. This is a photo
showing the occurrence of a big storm surge
over Manila in 2011 due to typhoon Pedring.

6. El Niño

El Niño is characterized by unusually warm ocean

temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. El Niño is an
oscillation of the ocean-atmosphere system in the
tropical Pacific having important consequences for
weather around the globe.

Among these consequences are increased rainfall

across the southern tier of the US and in Peru, which
has caused destructive flooding, and drought in the
West Pacific, sometimes associated with devastating
brush fires in Australia.
FIGURE 6 – A PHOTO OF A FARMER AND HIS CARABAO ON A
During El Niño the trade winds relax in the DROUGHT-STRICKEN FARM FIELD IN NORTH COTABATO,
central and western Pacific leading to a flattening PHILIPPINES

of the thermocline (blue band) due to a

depression of the thermocline in the eastern Pacific, and an elevation of the thermocline in the west.

La Niña
La Niña means Little Girl in Spanish. La Niña is also sometimes called El Viejo, anti- El Niño, or
simply "a cold event." La Niña has the opposite effect of El Niño. La Niña is a weather phenomena
characterized by unusually cold ocean temperature in the Equatorial Pacific which causes increased
numbers of tropical storms in the Pacific Ocean.

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A La Niña winter has the opposite impact of an El Niño winter. The results are dry and warm conditions
in the southern United States with dry and cool conditions along the equatorial Pacific and a wetter than
normal southeast Asia. During the summer, La Niña causes the western coast of South America and
southeast Asia to be cooler.

REFERENCES:
http://drr.ikcest.org/tutorial/pf068#:~:text=Typhoon%20is%20a%20destructive%20weather,The%20second
%20is%20rainstorm%20disaster.&text=The%20third%20is%20storm%20surge%20disaster
http://pressbooks-dev.oer.hawaii.edu/atmo/chapter/chapter-15-thunderstorm-hazards/
https://people.uwec.edu/jolhm/eh2/nelson/nelsonmchazards/terms.htm
http://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/learning-tools/floods
http://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/information/storm-surge
http://www.fao.org/3/i6775e/i6775e.pdf
https://www.pmel.noaa.gov/elnino/what-is-la-nina

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HAZARDS BEFORE DURING AFTER

1. Typhoon  Put together a basic  Listen to the radio or  Monitor and update
disaster supplies kit TV for information, yourself with the
and consider storage and keep your progress of the
locations for weather radio handy typhoon through
different situations  If no advice to radio, television or
 Learn the elevation evacuate was the internet (should
level of your announced, then this be accessible).
property and better stay inside  Look out for and do
whether the land is your house. Keep not touch dangling or
flood-prone, which yourself calm and downed power lines
will help you know postpone any  Do not consume any
how your property scheduled travels. food and water which
will be affected  Turn off utilities if might have spoiled or
when storm surge or instructed to do so. contaminated
tidal flooding are  Avoid using the  Use stored or
forecasted phone, except for sterilized water.
 Determine where serious emergencies.  Consider all water
you would go and  Do not wade along contaminated until it
how you would get flooded areas to keep is declared safe by
there if you needed yourself from local authorities
to evacuate contacting water-  Wear protective gears
 Be sure trees and borne diseases. If it is such as boots. Water-
shrubs around your inevitable, wear borne diseases such
home are well protective gears such as Leptospirosis do
trimmed so they are as raincoats and boots not only spread out
more wind resistant to protect yourself. during typhoon but
 Install a generator also after the typhoon
for power outages  Clean up. Dispose
 Prepare a things that may be a
communications ground for
plan and family mosquitoes to breed.
emergency kit ahead Such stuffs may
of time include tires, cans or
pots.
2. Thunderstorm  Be familiar with If indoors:  Inspect your home
thunderstorm  Avoid contact with  Leave the house if
warning signs: dark, electrical you smell gas or
towering and equipment such as chemical fumes.
threatening clouds, telephones and  Check for damage to
distant thunder and TVs. walls, the roof, the
 Avoid contact with foundation, the
lightning, a sudden
plumbing. Do not electrical system and
increase in wind.
take a shower, wash water lines.
 Remove dead or the dishes, etc.  Notify your insurance
rotting trees and  Stay away from company if your

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 HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS

branches that could windows and doors, home is damaged.

fall and cause and stay off  Be aware of the threat
damage or injury. porches. of flooding caused by
 Remove dead or heavy rainfall.
rotting trees and If outdoors:  Stay away from
branches that could  Try to take shelter in flooded roadways,
a nearby building or storm-damaged areas
fall and cause
car. and downed power
damage or injury.
 If no shelter is lines.
 Close windows, available, go to an  Avoid making phone
secure outside doors open space in a low- calls except in serious
and unplug lying area. emergencies.
electronic
equipment.

Get inside a home,

building or hard-top
automobile.
3. Flashflood  You will not always  Listen continuously  Seek necessary
have a warning that to a portable, battery- medical care at the
these deadly, sudden powered radio (or nearest hospital or
floods are coming. So television) for clinic. Contaminated
if you live in areas updated emergency flood waters lead to a
prone to flash floods, information. Local greater possibility of
it is critical to have a stations provide you infection. Severe
family meeting for an with the best advice injuries will require
emergency and for your particular medical attention.
communications plan situation.  Help a neighbor who
 Consider the safety of  If you live in a flood- may require special
your pets in prone area or think assistance - infants,
preparedness plan you are at risk, elderly people, and
 Know the elevation evacuate people with
of your house in immediately. Move disabilities.
relation to nearby quickly to higher  Stay out of any
streams and dams so ground. Save building if flood
you can be aware if yourself, not your waters remain around
forecasted flood belongings. The most the building. Flood
levels will affect your important thing is waters often
home. your safety undermine
 Memorize  If you are driving and foundations, causing
communications and come upon rapidly sinking, floors can
family preparedness rising waters, turn crack or break and
plan ahead of time around and find buildings can
another route. Move collapse.
to higher ground  Report broken utility
away from rivers, lines to the
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 HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS

streams, creeks, and appropriate

storm drains. If your authorities.
route is blocked by
flood waters or
barricades, find
another route.
Barricades are put up
by local officials to
protect people from
unsafe roads.
4. Flood  Find out about the  Tune into emergency  Wear rubber boots or
flood risk at your radio broadcasters rubber soled shoes
property can help you  Never drive, walk, when entering a
to mitigate the play or swim in property that has
impacts of a flood floodwaters. People been flooded
before it occurs. and vehicles can be  Be cautious of any
 Once you are aware swept away in fast hazards such as
of the flood risk at moving floodwaters, electrical wires which
your property, the waters can be may give you electric
next step is planning contaminated by shocks, submerged
and preparing in case sewage or toxic items, holes in
a flood does occur chemicals and can flooring, broken glass
 Know where an contain submerged or areas of walls and
emergency relief objects and debris ceilings which may
center might be set which could cause fall
up injuries  Do not drink any
 Identify hazardous  Contain your pets in a water as it may be
substances and a plan safe, transportable contaminated, by
to secure these to carrier with adequate sewerage or
prevent supplies for them chemicals, drink only
contamination of  Notify relatives and bottled water until
flood waters neighbors of your you are assured that
 Prepare an situation and plans in your water supply is
Emergency Flood Kit case you need to safe
that includes: a list of evacuate  Throw away any food
useful telephone which has been
numbers including exposed to flood
neighbours, relatives, waters
insurance companies  Begin cleaning up
and emergency your property and
services to obtain belongings. Be aware
details about the that this may be a
flood, medication and very long process.
food.
5. Storm surge  Check your house  Stay inside where  Stay away from
and land for any you are protected damaged areas unless

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 HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS

potential dangers from the water. It's your assistance has

related to flooding. best to be on the been specifically
Identify any downwind side of the requested by police,
vulnerability and house, away from fire, or relief
repair it. windows. organization.
 Sandbags are a  Monitor the storm's  Return home only
valuable tool to progress and listen when authorities
prevent water from for warnings or indicate it is safe.
entering your home. instructions from  Use extreme caution
This approach local officials. when entering
requires specific  Before driving buildings; there may
instructions from anywhere, listen be hidden damage,
your local emergency carefully to rescue particularly in
officials. officials who will be foundations.
 If you live in an area coordinating  Clean and disinfect
that is subject to evacuation plans. everything that got
flooding, do not store  Be aware of risks wet. Mud left from
your important such as hypothermia floodwaters can
documents in the from cold water or contain sewage and
basement. Keep them drowning from chemicals.
at a higher level, running water.
protected from flood
damage.
 Ensure that your
family has an
emergency kit and
plan.
6. El Niño  Clear your gutters  Keep updated on  Understand how the
and outdoor drains. PAGASA or phenomenon has
Keeping your gutters television monitoring affected your
clear can help reports or advisories property and your
eliminate the risk of for you to be aware finances
water damage from of the precautionary  Identify strategies to
having clogged measures one must help your family
gutters. take during this recover from the
 Another good way to phenomenon damages that the
prepare for El Nino  Take precautionary hazard has caused
and other weather measures to decrease you
phenomena that may encountering fire-
directly or indirectly related disasters
cause home
emergencies is to
check your supply
lines to make sure
there are no leaks.
More specifically,

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 HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS

you should check

both gas and water
lines to make sure
they are in good
working condition.

7. La Niña  Make sure your  Keep updated on  Understand how the
preparedness kit PAGASA or phenomenon has
includes flashlights, television monitoring affected your
batteries, cash and reports or advisories property and your
first aid supplies. for you to be aware finances
 Make sure you and of the precautionary  Inspect your home
your phone are measures one must
for any malfunctions
prepared for an take during this
or damages
emergency or an phenomenon
outage.  La Niña generally  Seek help to
 Prepare now for causes water professionals in your
stormy weather. abundance including plan to fix any
Submit a tree flooding. Which is damages
trimming request if why during La Niña appropriately.
you observe trees or your family should be  If flood has occurred
other vegetation that ready to respond in your area, apply
are dead or dying and immediately in case management plan
leaning into overhead flooding occurs in specific for post-
power lines. your area flood events.
 Additionally, because
there will be an
increase in rainfall
rates during this
phenomenon, your
family should also be
alert for hazards La
Niña can trigger such
as flashfloods and
rain-induced
landslides

REFERENCES:
https://askinglot.com/what-should-you-do-before-during-and-after-hydrometeorological-hazard

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https://www.habitat.org/our-work/disaster-response/disaster-preparedness-homeowners/thunderstorms
https://marufish.com/disaster/el-nino-la-nina/what-can-we-prepare-before-the-el-nino/

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