The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has reported that Tropical Storm Man-yi (Pepito) could intensify into a super typhoon by the evening of November 16. NASA is also warning that the simultaneous series of storms swirling near the Philippines this November is considered an “unusual” phenomenon.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has reported that Tropical Storm Man-yi (Pepito) continues to strengthen and may become a super typhoon by the evening of November 16. (Photo: Reuters).
Tropical Storm Man-yi may make landfall at maximum intensity. As of 4 AM local time on November 15, Man-yi had maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h and gusts up to 135 km/h. The storm is moving westward at a speed of 25 km/h. Meanwhile, Typhoon Usagi (Ofe) has begun to weaken as it moves through the Luzon Strait early on November 15.
On November 14, NASA shared a satellite image showing a lineup of tropical storms (Marce, Nika, Ofel, and Pepito) in the western Pacific. According to NASA, in an unusual sight, four storms were simultaneously moving in the Western Pacific in November 2024. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that this is the first time since 1951 that so many storms have coexisted in the Pacific basin during November.
The typhoon season in the Western Pacific lasts throughout the year, but most storms form between May and October. November typically sees three named storms, with one becoming a super typhoon, based on the average from 1991 to 2000. Recent storm overlap has caused significant damage in the Philippines, resulting in 159 fatalities. The United Nations is calling for $32.9 million in aid for the most heavily affected areas in the Philippines.
