Manila sits directly in the path of the Western Pacific typhoon belt, one of the most active tropical cyclone regions on Earth, and averages around 2,000 mm (about 79 inches) of rain a year, with the wet season from June through November bringing both the Southwest Monsoon and a steady procession of typhoons. Several dozen tropical systems affect the Philippines in a typical year, and even storms that don’t make a direct hit can enhance monsoon rains enough to cause serious flooding across the low-lying metro area. Because Manila Bay and the Pasig River both drain through the city, heavy rain combined with a typhoon’s storm surge can compound flooding risk significantly, as has happened repeatedly with major storms in recent decades. Given how quickly a tropical system can intensify or shift track in this region, radar imagery is an essential real-time tool alongside official typhoon bulletins. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, PAGASA, operates the national weather radar network.
Learn more: Hurricane Season Radar Guide · Open the full Rain Map