2013 Rainfall over the Philippines

In a normal year, 30 percent of the total rainfall near the Philippines, located in the Western Pacific Ocean is caused by tropical cyclones. This visualization shows the estimated total rainfall contributed by named tropical cyclones over the Philippines from January 1 to November 11, 2013. The data used to create the visualization were derived from Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM) measurements. In particular, a TRMM-based, near-real time Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) was used to analyze only rainfall near tropical cyclones passing close to or over the Philippines. The data show almost four feet of rain fell in parts of the northern and central Philippines. The color scale represents rainfall amounts from 0-44 inches (~0-1100 millimeters). Red indicates areas where rainfall totals were greater than 43 inches. Small white icons with the names of each tropical cyclone show storm tracks. The most notable tropical cyclone was Super Typhoon Haiyan that devastated the central Philippines in November 2013. Super Typhoon Haiyan, Tropical Depression 30W, and Typhoon Rumbia passed over the central Philippines resulting in estimated rainfall totals of more than 43 inches (~1100 millimeters) over the island of Leyte.