PAGASA to establish a new warning system for rainstorms

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is drafting a new rainfall alert system in Metro Manila to prepare communities for possible disasters brought by monsoon rains. 

 

Nathaniel Servando, PAGASA's administrator, said the alert system, which will be modelled after Hong Kong Observatory's three-level rainstorm alert system, is expected to be tested before June, when the rainy season starts in most parts of the country. 

 

He noted that this is important as torrential downpours from monsoon rains, wind convergence zones, and low pressure areas have caused devastation in large parts of the country. 

 

"We have experienced strong rains even if there is no typhoon," the PAGASA chief said. 

 

'Laymanizing' the warning system

 

Officials said that having a separate alert system for rainstorms was one of the topics discussed with President Benigno Aquino III at a recent meeting of the Cabinet Cluster for Climate Change. 

 

Sources said the President was concerned that the present rainfall notification embedded within the storm signal warning is insufficient and too technical for the general public. 

 

Servando said the warning scheme for rains is different from the storm public signal warning system that PAGASA disseminates for tropical cyclones. 

 

The storm warning system is primarily based on wind strength. The rainfall warning, on the other hand, will be based on the amount of water that the clouds are carrying, PAGASA officials said. 

 

The alert system will notify the public if the expected rains will be light, moderate, or heavy, Servando said. 

 

The rainfall alert information  would also mention the probability of precipitation, possible hazards, areas affected, and estimated amount of rain in the next few hours.

 

Patterned after Hong Kong system

 

Dr. Flaviana Hilario, PAGASA's research chief, said the agency has yet to decide on the alert scheme. Hong Kong's rainstorm warning, she noted, uses a color-coded system.

 

According to the Hong Kong Observatory's website, an amber alert signals potentially heavy rain. Red and black signals are issued if officials expect the rains to bring serious road flooding and traffic congestion.

 

The Philippines, Hilario said, could use a number system. The plans are yet to be finalized. 

 

Better use of social media

 

Servando said PAGASA would launch a massive information dissemination campaign to educate the public on the alert levels once the rainfall warning scheme is finalized. 

 

He noted that PAGASA would have to be more aggressive in the use of social media to spread information about the weather. 

 

The agency was heavily criticized recently for its alleged failure to warn the local governments in Mindanao of the potential devastation from Tropical Storm Sendong. 

 

The storm, which hit northern Mindanao, carried a maximum of 25 mm of rains per hour. The unusually heavy rainfall, aggravated by logging in upland areas, wiped out villages in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities, which were unprepared for the onslaught. — TJD/YA, GMA News