Typhoon season in Manila: signals and prep

If you've lived through hurricane season on the Gulf Coast, you already get the idea. Manila's version comes more often, brings more rain, and runs on a five-level signal system you'll want to learn before your first storm.

The short version

Season: PAGASA, the national weather service, says storms in the western North Pacific (which includes the Philippines) form mainly from May to November, but they can show up in any month [1].
Signals 1 to 5: PAGASA's Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals warn of winds from 39 km/h (24 miles per hour) at Signal 1 up to 185 km/h (115 miles per hour) or more at Signal 5 [2].
Metro Manila gets one signal for the whole region, not city by city [2].
Rain is often the bigger problem. Floods, not wind, are what strand people in Manila. Watch PAGASA's rainfall and flood warnings as closely as the wind signal [3].
Get on the embassy's radar: enroll in STEP and save the embassy's emergency line, (+63) 2 5301-2000 [4].

How PAGASA's storm signals work

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) issues a Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) for any area that may get strong winds within the next 36 hours [2]. The current five-level system has been in use since March 23, 2022 [2].

Signal	Wind expected	Lead time	What it means for you
1	39–61 km/h (24–38 miles per hour)	36 hours	Minimal to minor damage to light structures; minimal transit disruption [2]
2	62–88 km/h (39–55 miles per hour)	24 hours	Minor to moderate damage to light and old structures [2]
3	89–117 km/h (55–73 miles per hour)	18 hours	Damage to light structures; power outages with downed lines and posts [2][3]
4	118–184 km/h (73–114 miles per hour)	12 hours	Severe damage; near-total loss of power and phone service likely [2][3]
5	185 km/h (115 miles per hour) or more	12 hours	Severe to catastrophic damage; power, water and phone service out for long periods [2][3]

A few rules of thumb from PAGASA's own notes [2]:

Signals can skip levels. An area can jump from Signal 1 straight to Signal 3 if a storm strengthens quickly.
Your street may be windier than the signal. High floors, open water and exposed hillsides get stronger gusts than the general forecast. If you live on the 40th floor of a BGC tower, take the number seriously.
Metro Manila is treated as one unit, while elsewhere signals usually go province by province.

PAGASA also names storm strength in five steps, from tropical depression up to super typhoon. A typhoon has winds of 118 to 184 km/h (73 to 114 miles per hour), and a super typhoon tops 185 km/h (115 miles per hour) [1]. Storms also get local names from PAGASA, so the storm the US news calls one name may be on Philippine TV under another.

Floods: the real Manila problem

Much of Metro Manila is low-lying, and heavy rain from a typhoon, or from the southwest monsoon a storm drags in, can flood streets within hours. PAGASA's rainfall warnings come in three tiers [3]:

Advisory (yellow): flooding is possible in low-lying areas and near rivers. Stay aware.
Alert (orange): flooding is threatening. Get ready.
Emergency (red): severe flooding is expected. Take precautions now, and evacuate if told to.

For rivers, PAGASA's flood bulletins use Alert, Alarm and Critical levels, meaning a river is about 40%, 60% and 100% full [3]. PAGASA also runs a flood monitoring page for Metro Manila and posts dam information during heavy rain.

What floods mean day to day:

Roads close fast. Underpasses and some main roads become impassable, and Grab prices surge or cars vanish.
Floodwater isn't just water. It can carry sewage and the bacteria that cause leptospirosis. Avoid wading, and see a doctor if you had to walk through it with a cut on your feet or legs.
Ground-floor homes and parking take the hit. If you're house-hunting, ask the guard or neighbors how high the water got in the last big storm. It's a more useful question than anything on the listing.

Power and water outages

Manila's power grid goes down in strong storms, and from Signal 3 PAGASA warns of outages with downed lines and posts [3]. Meralco is the electric utility for most of Metro Manila. Many condo towers have backup generators for elevators, water pumps and some hallway lights, but not always for your unit's outlets or air conditioning. Ask building management what runs on the generator before the season starts.

Water service can falter too, especially in buildings whose pumps lose power, and PAGASA warns that drinking water supply gets scarce in the strongest storms [3]. Phone signal usually holds up better than power, but cell towers can fail in the worst storms [3].

Alerts, suspensions and official help

Phone alerts. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) sends free emergency alerts to cell phones in affected areas. NDRRMC's website didn't load when we checked, so we can't link its current guidance; make sure emergency alerts are switched on in your phone's settings, and keep a Philippine SIM active.

Class and work suspensions. Local governments and the national government announce school class suspensions, and sometimes government work suspensions, when signals or rain warnings go up. International schools make their own calls. Private employers decide for themselves, so check your company's policy.

The US Embassy. The embassy posts alerts for US citizens and can be reached 24/7 at (+63) 2 5301-2000 for emergencies, or +1-202-501-4444 from abroad and +1-888-407-4747 from the US and Canada [4]. For police, fire and medical emergencies, dial 911 [4].

Travel advisory. When we checked on November 6, 2026, the State Department rated the Philippines Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution), with some areas higher, in the advisory updated September 1, 2026 [5]. That rating is about crime and security, not weather, but the advisory page is where the State Department posts big disaster updates too.

Getting your home ready

Think of it as hurricane prep, Manila edition. Do the big stuff in April or May, before the season gets going.

Water: store enough drinking water for several days for everyone in the household, plus extra for flushing if your building relies on electric pumps.
Food: canned and ready-to-eat food, a manual can opener, and anything your kids or pets need.
Light and power: flashlights, spare batteries and charged power banks. Charge everything when a Signal 2 or higher goes up.
Cash: ATMs and card machines fail when the power does. Keep some pesos at home.
Documents: passports, ACR I-Cards, birth certificates and insurance papers in a waterproof bag, with scans in the cloud.
Medicine: at least a week's supply of prescriptions and a first-aid kit.
Windows and balconies: bring in plants, furniture and drying racks. Tape won't stop glass from breaking, but towels along window frames help with the rain that blows sideways through gaps.
Car: if you're in a flood-prone area, move it to higher ground or an upper parking level early.
Plan B: agree where your family will go if your building floods or loses water for days, and check whether your renter's or condo insurance covers typhoon and flood damage.
Go bag: pack one per person, in case you're told to evacuate.

After the storm

Stay inside until the signal is lowered and the rain eases. Watch for downed power lines and open drains hidden under floodwater. Check on older neighbors, and let family back in the States know you're OK; they'll have seen the storm on the news before you've even lost power.

Want to know which neighborhoods flooded in the last big storm, or which condo buildings keep the elevators running? Ask in our community group for Americans in the Philippines.

Typhoon season in Manila: storm signals, floods, outages and how to get your home ready