FOLLOWING a year of complex weather patterns in 2024, filled with raging storms due to the phenomenon La Niña, Filipinos should prepare as two to eight tropical cyclones are expected in the first half of 2025.
According to the state weather bureau PAGASA, between two and eight tropical cyclones may form or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) between January and June of this year.
The weather bureau expects at least one storm in January, February, March, and April, while one to two storms hitting the country or entering the PAR in May and June, as reported by a media.
However, the first five months of the year (January to May) are regarded to be a “quiet” time for tropical cyclone activity in the Western North Pacific Ocean basin, which is where the Philippines is located.
Names of 2025 Storms
Aside from providing an early projection of what the early half of the year may look like in terms of tropical cyclones, PAGASA also announced the official names that will be used for the storms:
- Auring
- Bising
- Crising
- Dante
- Emong
- Fabian
- Gorio
- Huaning
- Isang
- Jacinto
- Kiko
- Lannie
- Mirasol
- Nando
- Opong
- Paolo
- Quedan
- Ramil
- Salome
- Tino
- Uwan
- Verbena
- Wilma
- Yasmin
- Zoraida
Retiring Names
Furthermore, at least five storm names from 2024 may be eligible for retirement. These are Aghon, Carina, Enteng, Julian, and Kristine. PAGASA retires names that have caused at least 300 fatalities or P1 billion in damages.
According to the NDRRMC, Aghon, Enteng, and Julian caused total damage of P1.03 billion, P2.6 billion, and P1.57 billion, respectively, with a total of P40 billion in storm damage for the entire year of 2024.
Typhoons Butchoy and Carina caused more than P10 billion in damage, while Kristine and Leon caused P18 billion, prompting the retirement of their names due to the significant cost to the country.
Last year was the first time a tropical system that did not enter the PAR received a local name. PAGASA gave the local name Romina to a tropical depression that formed over the West Philippine Sea.
Meanwhile, 17 storms will enter PAR in 2024. Six of them hit Northern Luzon consecutively in a month. Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, Super Typhoon Leon, Typhoon Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Super Typhoon Pepito.
