Philippine Public Storm Signals

PSWS # 1
	METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS: A tropical cyclone will affect the locality. Winds of 30-60 kph may be expected in at least 36 hours or intermittent rains may be expected within 36 hours. (When the tropical cyclone develops very close to the locality a shorter lead time of the occurrence of the winds will be specified in the warning bulletin.
	IMPACT OF THE WINDS: Twigs and branches of small trees may be broken. Some banana plants may be tilted or downed. Some houses of very light materials (nipa and cogon) may be partially unroofed. Unless this warning signal is upgraded during the entire existence of the tropical cyclone, only very light or no damage at all may be sustained by the exposed communities. Rice crop, however, may suffer significant damage when it is in its flowering stage.
	PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: When the tropical cyclone is strong or is intensifying and is moving closer, this signal may be upgraded to the next higher level. The waves on coastal waters may gradually develop and become bigger and higher. The people are advised to listen to the latest severe weather bulletin issued by PAGASA every six hours. In the meantime, business may be carried out as usual except when flood occur. Disaster preparedness is activated to alert status.
PSWS # 2
	METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS: A tropical cyclone will affect the locality. Winds of greater than 60 kph and up to 100 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours.
	IMPACT OF THE WINDS: Some coconut trees may be tilted with few others broken. Few big trees may be uprooted. Many banana plants may be downed. Rice and corn may be adversely affected. Large number of nipa and cogon houses may be partially or totally unroofed. Some old galvanized iron roofings may be peeled off. In general, the winds may bring light to moderate damage to the exposed communities.
	PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: The sea and coastal waters are dangerous to small seacrafts Special attention should be given to the latest position, the direction and speed of movement and the intensity of the storm as it may intensify and move towards the locality. The general public especially people travelling by sea and air are cautioned to avoid unnecessary risks. Outdoor activities of children should be postponed. Secure properties before the signal is upgraded. Disaster preparedness agencies / organizations are in action to alert their communities.
PSWS # 3
	METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS: A tropical cyclone will affect the locality. Winds of greater than 100 kph up to 185 kph may be expected in at least 18 hours.
	IMPACT OF THE WINDS: Many coconut trees may be broken or destroyed. Almost all banana plants may be downed and a large number of trees may be uprooted. Rice and corn crops may suffer heavy losses. Majority of all nipa and cogon houses may be unroofed or destroyed and there may be considerable damage to structures of light to medium construction. There may be widespread disruption of electrical power and communication services. In general, moderate to heavy damage may be experienced, particularly in the agricultural and industrial sectors.
	PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: The disturbance is dangerous to the communities threatened/affected. The sea and coastal waters will be very dangerous to all seacrafts. Travel is very risky especially by sea and air. People are advised to seek shelter in strong buildings, evacuate low-lying areas and to stay away from the coasts and river banks. Watch out for the passage of the "eye" of the typhoon indicated by a sudden occurrence of fair weather immediately after very bad weather with very strong winds coming generally from the north. When the "eye" of the typhoon hit the community do not venture away from the safe shelter because after one to two hours the worst weather will resume with the very strong winds coming from the south. Classes in all levels should be suspended and children should stay in the safety of strong buildings. Disaster preparedness and response agencies/organizations are in action with appropriate response to actual emergency.
PSWS # 4
	METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS: A very intense typhoon will affect the locality. Very strong winds of more than 185 kph may be expected in at least 12 hours.
	IMPACT OF THE WINDS: Coconut plantation may suffer extensive damage. Many large trees may be uprooted. Rice and corn plantation may suffer severe losses. Most residential and institutional buildings of mixed construction may be severely damaged. Electrical power distribution and communication services may be severely disrupted. In the overall, damage to affected communities can be very heavy.
	PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES: The situation is potentially very destructive to the community. All travels and outdoor activities should be cancelled. Evacuation to safer shelters should have been completed since it may be too late under this situation. With PSWS #4, the locality is very likely to be hit directly by the eye of the typhoon. As the eye of the typhoon approaches, the weather will continuously worsen with the winds increasing to its strongest coming generally from the north. Then a sudden improvement of the weather with light winds (a lull) will be experienced. This means that the eye of the typhoon is over the locality. This improved weather may last for one to two hours depending on the diameter of the eye and the speed of movement. As the eye moves out of the locality, the worst weather experienced before the lull will suddenly commence. This time the very strong winds will come generally from the south. The disaster coordinating councils concerned and other disaster response organizations are now fully responding to emergencies and in full readiness to immediately respond to possible calamity.
FOOTNOTES: Important to note that when any Public Storm Warning Signal Number is hoisted or put in effect for the first time, the corresponding meteorological conditions are not yet prevailing over the locality. This is because the purpose of the signal is to warn the impending occurrence of the given meteorological conditions. It must be noted also that the approximate lead time to expect the range of the wind speeds given for each signal number is valid only when the signal number is put in effect for the first time. Thus, the associated meteorological conditions are still expected in at least 36 hours when PSWS #1 is put in effect initially; in at least 24 hours with PSWS #2; in at least 18 hours with PSWS #3; and in at least 12 hours with PSWS #4. The lead time shortens correspondingly in the subsequent issues of the warning bulletin when the signal number remains in effect as the tropical cyclone comes closer. It is also important to remember that tropical cyclones are constantly in motion; generally towards the Philippines when PAGASA is issuing the warning. Therefore, the Public Storm Warning Signal Number over a threatened/ affected locality may be sequentially upgraded or downgraded. This means that PSWS #1 may be be upgraded to PSWS #2, then to PSWS #3 and to PSWS #4 as necessary when a very intense typhoon is approaching or downgraded when the typhoon is moving away. However, in case of rapid improvement of the weather condition due to the considerable weakening or acceleration of speed of movement of the tropical cyclone moving away from the country, the downgrading of signal may jump one signal level. For example, PSWS #3 may be downgraded to PSWS #1 or all signals from PSWS #2 may be lowered. The delineation of areas for a given signal number is based on the intensity, size of circulation and the forecast direction and speed of movement of the tropical storm or typhoon at the time of issue of the warning bulletin. The change in intensity, size of circulation or movement of the tropical cyclone also determines the change in the PSWS number over a given locality.

United Nations Member States

The 193 member countries of the United Nations with their date of admission. There are several countries that are not members of the United Nations. The admission date of October 24, 1945 is the founding day the U.N.

Afghanistan - Nov 19, 1946

Albania - Dec 14, 1955

Algeria - Oct 8, 1962

Andorra - July 28, 1993

Angola - Dec 1, 1976

Antigua and Barbuda - Nov 11, 1981

Argentina - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Armenia - March 2, 1992

Australia - Nov 1, 1945 (original UN member)

Austria - Dec 14, 1955

Azerbaijan - March 2, 1992

The Bahamas - Sept 18, 1973

Bahrain - Sept 21, 1971

Bangladesh - Sept 17, 1974

Barbados - Dec 9, 1966

Belarus - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Belgium - Dec 27, 1945 (original UN member)

Belize - Sept 25, 1981

Benin - Sept 20, 1960

Bhutan - Sept 21, 1971

Bolivia - Nov 14, 1945 (original UN member)

Bosnia and Herzegovina - May 22, 1992

Botswana - Oct 17, 1966

Brazil - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Brunei - Sept 21, 1984

Bulgaria - Dec 14, 1955

Burkina Faso - Sept 20, 1960

Burundi - Sept 18, 1962

Cambodia - Dec 14, 1955

Cameroon - Sept 20, 1960

Canada - Nov 9, 1945 (original UN member)

Cape Verde - Sept 16, 1975

Central African Republic - Sept 20, 1960

Chad - Sept 20, 1960

Chile - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

China - Oct 25, 1971*

Colombia - Nov 5, 1945 (original UN member)

Comoros - Nov 12, 1975

Republic of the Congo - Sept 20, 1960

Democratic Republic of the Congo - Sept 20, 1960

Costa Rica - Nov 2, 1945 (original UN member)

Cote d'Ivoire - Sept 20, 1960

Croatia - May 22, 1992

Cuba - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Cyprus - Sept 20, 1960

Czech Republic - Jan 19, 1993

Denmark - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Djibouti - Sept 20, 1977

Dominica - Dec 18, 1978

Dominican Republic - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

East Timor - Sept 22, 2002

Ecuador - Dec 21, 1945 (original UN member)

Egypt - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

El Salvador - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Equatorial Guinea - Nov 12, 1968

Eritrea - May 28, 1993

Estonia - Sept 17, 1991

Ethiopia - Nov 13, 1945 (original UN member)

Fiji - Oct 13, 1970

Finland - Dec 14, 1955

France - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Gabon - Sept 20, 1960

The Gambia - Sept 21, 1965

Georgia - July 31, 1992

Germany - Sept 18, 1973

Ghana - March 8, 1957

Greece - Oct 25, 1945 (original UN member)

Grenada - Sept 17, 1974

Guatemala - Nov 21, 1945 (original UN member)

Guinea - Dec 12, 1958

Guinea-Bissau - Sept 17, 1974

Guyana - Sept 20, 1966

Haiti - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Honduras - Dec 17, 1945 (original UN member)

Hungary - Dec 14, 1955

Iceland - Nov 19, 1946

India - Oct 30, 1945 (original UN member)

Indonesia - Sept 28, 1950

Iran - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Iraq - Dec 21, 1945 (original UN member)

Ireland - Dec 14, 1955

Israel - May 11, 1949

Italy - Dec 14, 1955

Jamaica - Sept 18, 1962

Japan - Dec 18, 1956

Jordan - Dec 14, 1955

Kazakhstan - March 2, 1992

Kenya - Dec 16, 1963

Kiribati - Sept 14, 1999

Korea, North - Dec 17, 1991

Korea, South - Dec 17, 1991

Kuwait - May 14, 1964

Kyrgyzstan - March 2, 1992

Laos - Dec 14, 1955

Latvia - Sept 17, 1991

Lebanon - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Lesotho - Oct 17, 1966

Liberia - Nov 2, 1945 (original UN member)

Libya - Dec 14, 1955

Liechtenstein - Sept 18, 1990

Lithuania - Sept 17, 1991

Luxembourg - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Macedonia - April 8, 1993

Madagascar - Sept 20, 1960

Malawi - Dec 1, 1964

Malaysia - Sept 17, 1957

Maldives - Sept 21, 1965

Mali - Sept 28, 1960

Malta - Dec 1, 1964

Marshall Islands - Sept 17, 1991

Mauritania - Oct 27, 1961

Mauritius - April 24, 1968

Mexico - Nov 7, 1945 (original UN member)

Micronesia, Federated States of - Sept 17, 1991

Moldova - March 2, 1992

Monaco - May 28, 1993

Mongolia - Oct 27, 1961

Montenegro - June 28, 2006

Morocco - Nov 12, 1956

Mozambique - Sept 16, 1975

Myanmar (Burma) - April 19, 1948

Namibia - April 23, 1990

Nauru - Sept 14, 1999

Nepal - Dec 14, 1955

Netherlands - Dec 10, 1945 (original UN member)

New Zealand - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Nicaragua - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Niger - Sept 20, 1960

Nigeria - Oct 7, 1960

Norway - Nov 27, 1945 (original UN member)

Oman - Oct 7, 1971

Pakistan - Sept 30, 1947

Palau - Dec 15, 1994

Panama - Nov 13, 1945 (original UN member)

Papua New Guinea - Oct 10, 1945

Paraguay - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member country)

Peru - Oct 31, 1945 (original UN member)

Philippines - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Poland - Oct 24, 1945

Portugal - Dec 14, 1955

Qatar - Sept 21, 1977

Romania - Dec 14, 1955

Russia - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Rwanda - Sept 18, 1962

Saint Kitts and Nevis - Sept 23, 1983

Saint Lucia - Sept 18, 1979

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Sept. 16, 1980

Samoa - Dec 15, 1976

San Marino - March 2, 1992

Sao Tome and Principe - Sept 16, 1975

Saudi Arabia - Oct 24, 1945

Senegal - Sept 28, 1945

Serbia - Nov 1, 2000

Seychelles - Sept 21, 1976

Sierra Leone - Sept 27, 1961

Singapore - Sept 21, 1965

Slovakia - Jan 19, 1993

Slovenia - May 22, 1992

Solomon Islands - Sept 19, 1978

Somalia - Sept 20, 1960

South Africa - Nov 7, 1945 (original UN member)

South Sudan - July 14, 2011

Spain - Dec 14, 1955

Sri Lanka - Dec 14, 1955

Sudan - Nov 12, 1956

Suriname - Dec 4, 1975

Swaziland - Sept 24, 1968

Sweden - Nov 19, 1946

Switzerland - Sept 10, 2002

Syria - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Tajikistan - March 2, 1992

Tanzania - Dec 14, 1961

Thailand - Dec 16, 1946

Togo - Sept 20, 1960

Tonga - Sept 14, 1999

Trinidad and Tobago - Sept 18, 1962

Tunisia - Nov 12, 1956

Turkey - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

Turkmenistan - March 2, 1992

Tuvalu - Sept 5, 2000

Uganda - Oct 25, 1962

Ukraine - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

United Arab Emirates - Dec 9, 1971

United Kingdom - Oct 24, 1945 (original UN member)

United States of America - Oct 24, 1945

Uruguay - Dec 18, 1945

Uzbekistan - March 2, 1992

Vanuatu - Sept 15, 1981

Venezuela - Nov 15, 1945 (original UN member)

Vietnam - Sept 20, 1977

Yemen - Sept 30, 1947

Zambia - Dec 1, 1964

Zimbabwe - Aug 25, 1980

*Taiwan was a member country of the United Nations from October 24, 1945 to October 25, 1971. Since then, China replaced Taiwan on the United Nations Security Council and in the U.N.

Source: http://geography.about.com/od/politicalgeography/a/unmembercountries.htm