Yellow, orange and red: PAGASA’s bright colors mean wet and dreary

As heavy rains affect the country even without a weather disturbance and typhoon warning signals, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) releases a color-coded rainfall warning which indicates the amount of rain expected in an hour.

 

The PAGASA's color-coded rainfall warning has three colors: yellow, orange and red explained below.

 

Yellow warning

 

The yellow warning or yellow rainfall advisory is issued by the PAGASA when rains might cause flooding in low-lying areas.

 

Rainfall is expected to reach 7.5 millimeters to 15 millimeters in an hour or two gallons of water per square meter in the same period of time.

 

Orange warning

 

The orange warning or orange rainfall advisory is issued by the PAGASA when rains cause flooding in low-lying areas and communities are advised to be alert for the possibility of evacuation.

 

Rainfall is expected to reach 15 millimeters to 30 millimeters in an hour. This is equal to four to eight gallons of water per square meter in a span of one hour.

 

Red warning

 

The red warning or red rainfall advisory is issued by the PAGASA when rains reach an alarming level and the need for evacuation is high especially in low-lying areas. 

 

Rainfall is expected to reach 30 millimeters or more in hour. This is equals to over eight gallons of water per square meter in a span of one hour. —Andrei Medina/NB, GMA News