Weather and storms
Which half of the year is dry, when storms are most likely here, and what each PAGASA signal actually means.
The two halves of the year
- December to May — drier
- February to April is the most reliable stretch for diving and island trips. March and April are the hottest months.
- June to November — wetter
- The typhoon season. For this part of the Philippines, storm risk peaks from October to December.
Amihan and habagat
- Amihan, the north-east wind: roughly November to February.
- Habagat, the south-west monsoon: roughly June to September.
The PAGASA storm signals
| Signal | Winds | Expected within |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 39–61 km/h | 36 hours |
| 2 | 62–88 km/h | 24 hours |
| 3 | 89–117 km/h | 18 hours |
| 4 and 5 | above 118 km/h | — |
Flooding and flights
- Streets flood in heavy rain and usually clear within about an hour of the rain stopping.
- The seafront — Boulevard and Piapi — has the most storm exposure.
- In October and November, keep a spare day for a flight out through Cebu or Manila.