The Philippines typhoon season peaks from July through October, according to PAGASA, inside a rainy season that runs from June to November. Storms are graded with a five-level wind signal system.
This guide explains when storms are most common, how the national weather agency grades wind threats, and where Bohol fits in the climate picture. It sits alongside the broader philippines travel tips guide for first-time island visitors.
Typhoon season months and storm counts
PAGASA, the national weather agency, divides the year by temperature and rainfall rather than by storm dates. Its climate overview places the rainy season from June to November and the dry season from December to May. The dry season is split again into a cool dry stretch from December to February and a hot dry stretch from March to May.
Storms cluster inside the wet half of that calendar. PAGASA’s tropical cyclone information page describes the peak of the typhoon season as July through October. The same page states that an average of 20 tropical cyclones in the Philippine Area of Responsibility each year, with about 8 or 9 of them crossing the Philippines.
PAGASA also explains why storms influence everyday weather even when they miss land. Its climate page says a great portion of the rainfall, humidity and cloudiness comes from the influence of typhoons. Typhoons therefore shape the weather of the wet months across the country, not only on the days a storm makes landfall.
Storm formation, tracks and names
PAGASA notes that typhoons generally originate in the region of the Marianas and Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, then follow a northwesterly direction, as set out on its climate of the Philippines page. That track explains why the archipelago is exposed from the east. The same page says this movement spares Mindanao from being directly hit by most of the typhoons that cross the country.
The agency’s explainer on tropical cyclones states that the Philippines is prone to them because of its geographical location, and that they generally bring heavy rains, flooding of large areas and strong winds.
The agency’s explainer also describes how these systems build. Tropical cyclones form over oceans where sea surface temperature and air temperature are greater than 26°C, and the agency says those in the Pacific usually move at an average speed of 19 kilometers per hour. In general they last for about six days before they enter land or reach subtropical latitudes. The same tropical cyclone page says that as soon as they move inland they begin to weaken, but often not before they have caused great destruction.
Storm names follow a fixed rotation. According to PAGASA’s list of tropical cyclone names, the first tropical cyclone of the year takes a name that begins with the letter A, and each new disturbance moves down the list. Local news in the Philippines uses these names, so knowing the convention makes bulletins easier to follow.
Bohol and the Visayas in the climate picture
Bohol does not have a clean split between a wet and a dry season. A Philippine Institute for Development Studies briefing on Philippine climatology describes Type IV climate as having a more or less even distribution of rainfall throughout the year, and lists Northern Cebu and Bohol among the areas that share it. That means the island is not described as having a pronounced dry season.
The national warning system applies to the whole archipelago, including the Visayas. Travellers who plan to move between islands can read the guide to visayas island hopping for route ideas, and check the current signals for each province along the way.
Plans for nature outings can also shift when a storm system brings rain to the region. Trips to see the philippine tarsier on Bohol are one example of an outdoor plan worth rechecking against the latest bulletin.
The agency adds a warning that is useful for anyone on a boat or a hillside. Its wind signal guide says local winds are generally stronger over offshore water and on high ground than the general wind strength implied by a signal. Conditions on the open sea and on exposed ridges can therefore differ from the general wind strength a signal implies.
The PAGASA wind signal system
PAGASA issues Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals, or TCWS, for areas that may experience winds of at least strong breeze strength, which the agency sets at 39 km/h, within at most 36 hours of the signal taking effect. Its tropical cyclone wind signal page says the system uses five levels numbered from 1 to 5, and that it has been in use since 23 March 2022. A higher number means stronger expected wind and a shorter warning lead time.
A signal is usually hoisted at the level of a province, independent component city or highly urbanized city. The system also allows levels to be skipped, so an area can move up the scale faster than a traveller expects. The table sets out the wind threat and lead time for each level.
| Signal | Wind threat | Warning lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Signal 1 | 39-61 km/h | 36 hours |
| Signal 2 | 62-88 km/h | 24 hours |
| Signal 3 | 89-117 km/h | 18 hours |
| Signal 4 | 118-184 km/h | 12 hours |
| Signal 5 | 185 km/h or higher | 12 hours |
Figures in the table come from PAGASA’s tropical cyclone wind signal reference.
Signal levels and travel disruption
PAGASA publishes the potential impacts for every level on the same wind signal page, and several relate directly to getting around. At Signal 1 the agency expects minimal disruption to public transportation. At Signal 2 it expects minor to moderate disruption, and it notes that some electrical wires may be blown down, causing local power outages.
At Signal 3 the transport disruption grows to moderate to significant, and the agency says many areas may suffer power outages with numerous downed power lines. At Signal 4 it lists significant to severe disruption to public transportation and a near total loss of power supply and telecommunications. At Signal 5 it states that electricity, potable water supply and telecommunications will be unavailable for prolonged periods.
These descriptions are the agency’s own forecasts of impact and apply to the area under the signal. They show why transport and utilities are flagged ahead of a storm. For decisions about whether to travel, the United Kingdom’s foreign office advice for the Philippines says to follow the advice of local authorities and to monitor the progress of storms on the national weather agency and the disaster risk reduction council.
The same foreign office page warns that travel insurance could be invalidated if a person travels against official advice.
Travelling outside the stormiest months
The dry months offer a calmer baseline. PAGASA’s climate overview says the cool dry season runs from December to February, and that it is especially uncomfortable during March to May, when temperature and humidity reach their maximum levels.
Because the wind signals are issued per province or city and can change as a storm’s track and strength change, the current PAGASA bulletin is the reference during a trip. Season ranges describe when storms are likely, and the signal for a particular province describes what the agency expects there.
Frequently asked questions
When is the typhoon season in the Philippines?
PAGASA places the rainy season between June and November and the peak of typhoon activity between July and October. The agency treats July through October as the core of the season.
How many typhoons hit the Philippines in a year?
PAGASA gives an average of about 20 tropical cyclones in its monitored region each year. Around 8 or 9 of those cross the country, so most do not cross it.
Does Bohol get a dry season?
Bohol falls under Type IV climate, which has rainfall spread fairly evenly across the year. Rain is therefore a feature of the whole year there, and the wind signals are the tool for judging storms.
What do the PAGASA wind signals mean?
The agency uses five levels, from Signal 1 up to Signal 5. A higher level means stronger expected winds and a shorter lead time, and the agency’s own impact descriptions explain the likely effects on transport and power.
Where should travellers check for storm updates?
The United Kingdom’s foreign office advice points travellers to the national weather agency and the national disaster risk reduction council. It also tells travellers to follow the advice of local authorities.
