NASA: Four storms concurrently near PH ‘unusual’

The four storms that churned simultaneously in the Western Pacific Ocean in November, battering most parts of the Philippines, is an “unusual” occurrence, the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said. 

“The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that it was the first time since records began in 1951 that so many storms co-existed in the Pacific basin in November,” said NASA. 

NASA shared a satellite image taken last November 11 where storms Yinxing (Marce), Toraji (Nika), Usagi (Ofel), and Man-Yi (Pepito) were either approaching the Philippines or had already passed over the islands at that time. 

The space agency noted that typhoon season in the West Pacific stretches across the entire year, but most of the storms happen between May and October. 

“November typically sees three named storms, with one becoming a super typhoon, based on the 1991-2000 average,” NASA added. 

Marce was the first storm to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on November 4. The typhoon exited the country just a few days later on November 8. 

Nika then entered PAR on November 9 and crawled out last November 12. 

The northern portion of Luzon, especially the Ilocos Region and Cagayan Valley, were the most affected by the onslaught of the November storms. 

While residents are still reeling from the impact of Marce and Nika, they braced themselves just recently for the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Ofel and for the pending impact of Typhoon Pepito. 

While Ofel has already weakened and may “briefly” exit PAR on Friday afternoon, state weather bureau PAGASA said that it may “re-enter the PAR region as it turns generally northeastward towards southern Taiwan and will remain inside PAR until the rest of the forecast period.” 

Meanwhile, Pepito underwent "rapid intensification" Thursday. 

Pepito is already the 15th storm to enter PAR this 2024. The average number of tropical cyclones or storms that enter the country is 20.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News