Top 10 Strongest Typhoons in the Philippines

Are you having second thoughts about buying a house and lot in the Philippines due to typhoons?

Typhoons, also known as tropical cyclones and hurricanes, are among the deadliest disasters in the world. It can even wipe out an entire city in just a few minutes if it brings sustained wind speed exceeding 119 kilometers per hour plus non-stop heavy rains. These winds can even incur tremendous damage if it comes along with storm surges, floods, landslides, and tornadoes.

Moreover, typhoons usually occur in the western Pacific Ocean, while hurricanes occur in the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern north of the Pacific Ocean. Meanwhile, tropical cyclones occur in the Indian and South Pacific oceans.

In the Philippines, there are at least sixteen (16) typhoons each year. It usually enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) from April to November. But stronger typhoons occur between August and September. Among the hardest hit by typhoons every year are Central Luzon, Bicol, and CALABARZON regions.

Fast Facts About Typhoons

Here are some of the facts you need to know about typhoons.

 1. Strongest Typhoon in History

Do you know the strongest typhoon ever recorded in history? It was Typhoon Nancy, which occurred in the North Pacific region on September 12, 1961. Nancy caused widespread devastation across Japan and Guam, where 191 people died. Typhoon Nancy recorded a sustained wind speed of 343 kilometers per hour and was identified as Category 5 Super Typhoon.  

2. Number of Tropical Cyclones Worldwide

According to the World Meteorological Organization, about 85 tropical storms are formed yearly. Among these, seventy-two (72) percent are in the Northern hemisphere, while twenty-eight (28) percent are in the Southern hemisphere. However, only 45 of 85 became tropical storms, cyclones, or hurricanes.

3. Different Typhoon Terminologies

Typhoons have different terminologies and names based on their location. It is called typhoon if it is in the western North Pacific. It can be called a hurricane if it is located in the eastern and central North Pacific Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. In the southwest Indian Ocean, it is called a tropical cyclone, while in the Bay of Arabian and Bengal Sea, it is called a cyclone. If it is located in the southeast Indian and south pacific oceans, it is called a severe tropical cyclone.  

Classifications of Philippine Typhoons

In the Philippines, typhoons are classified based on their maximum sustained winds and strengths. Based on Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), they are identified as follows:

1. Tropical Depression (TD). It is a tropical cyclone with 62 kilometers per hour maximum sustained winds.
2. Tropical Storm (TS). It has maximum sustained winds of 62 to 88 kilometers per hour.
3. Severe Tropical Storm (STS). It has maximum sustained winds of 87 to 117 kilometers per hour.
4. Typhoon (TY). It will be considered a typhoon if the maximum wind speed reaches 118 to 184 kilometers per hour.
5. Super Typhoon (ST). It is classified as the strongest typhoon or Category 5 if it exceeds 185 kilometers per hour.

10 Strongest Typhoons in the Philippines 

These typhoons are ranked based on the recorded data in terms of the cost of damage or destructiveness.

1 .Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda

Based on PAGASA, Typhoon Yolanda is considered the strongest typhoon that hardly hit the country. It has a wind speed of 315 kilometers per hour, which caused P95.5 billion costs of damage, and more than 6,300 people died. It occurred in November 2013, wherein Tacloban City was heavily devastated due to an unpredicted storm surge.

2. Typhoon Rai or Odette

In 2021, the Visayas and Mindanao were not spared from typhoons as Typhoon Odette made landfall in Bohol and Surigao City. It has a wind speed of 280 kilometers per hour with P51.8 billion in damage costs and a 409 death toll. Cagayan de Oro City also suffered from typhoon Odette due to the overflowing of the rivers, causing massive flash floods across the city. 

3. Typhoon Bopha or Pablo

In 2012, another typhoon that caused heavy devastation in Mindanao was Typhoon Bopha or Pablo. It costs 1,900 deaths and P43.2 million in damages. Pablo made landfall in three separate locations, namely Northern Mindanao, Central Visayas, and Palawan. It recorded 280 kilometers per hour wind speed and caused power outages and landslides in Mindanao.

4. Typhoon Rammasun or Glenda

Typhoon Rammasun or Glenda also caused damage in some parts of Visayas and Luzon in 2014. With a wind speed of 260 kilometers per hour, it claimed 225 lives and P38.6 million in damage. Ninety- percent of Metro Manila residents suffered power outages due to downed lines and poles.

5. Typhoon Mangkhut or Ompong

In 2018, over 270,000 people were displaced in Luzon due to Typhoon Ompong, with a wind speed of 285 kilometers per hour. It damaged P33.9 billion, with 134 deaths caused by landslides, storm surges, and flash floods. 

6. Typhoon Parma or Pepeng

After Typhoon Ondoy, Typhoon Pepeng caused an unforgettable disaster for many Filipinos in Luzon, particularly in Pangasinan, Ilocos, and Cagayan. It swept out what was damaged left by Ondoy and interacted with the incoming typhoon Melor or Quedan. Pepeng has a wind speed of 250 kilometers per hour, causing 465 deaths and P27.3 billion in damage.

7. Typhoon Vamco or Ulysses

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Typhoon Vamco or Ulysses hit the Philippines in 2020. Typhoon Ulysses had a sustained wind speed of 215 kilometers per hour and caused 102 deaths with P20.2 billion in damage.

8. Typhoon Goni or Rolly  

Besides Typhoon Ulysses, Typhoon Rolly also entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility as a super typhoon in 2020. It has a wind speed of 315 kilometers per hour, which heavily affected the Bicol region causing 32 fatalities and P20 billion in damage.

9. Typhoon Nesat or Pedring

Two years after Typhoon Ondoy, Typhoon Pedring slammed some parts of Luzon with a sustained wind speed of 215 kilometers per hour. Apart from flash floods, destroyed building infrastructures and power outages were experienced by many Luzon residents. It was estimated that Pedring caused P15.6 billion in damage with 98 deaths.

10. Typhoon Koppu or Lando

In 2015, Typhoon Lando severely hit Aurora, which extensively damaged the coastal areas. It caused 62 deaths and P14.4 billion in damage. Lando recorded a wind speed of 240 kilometers per hour and heavy rainfall of more than 300 mm.

Invest in a Disaster-proof Residential Community

Clearly, the Philippines will continue to experience strong typhoons, especially now that the climate is rapidly changing. The most ideal way to invest in real estate property is to find a disaster-proof residential community. 

Thankfully, Lumina Homes offer affordable house and lot for sale with over 50 key locations nationwide. Rest assured, these homes have high-quality construction materials that can withstand disasters like typhoons and floods. Expect that it can be worthy of your investment in the future. 

If you want more details about our featured affordable house and lot properties, get in touch with our accredited sellers today.