PAGASA wind signals 1 to 5: what each one means
A Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal is PAGASA's warning that strong wind from a storm is on its way to your area. There are five, numbered 1 to 5. The higher the number, the stronger the wind and the shorter the warning: Signal 1 means winds of 39 to 61 km/h within 36 hours.
By Hamza Rivera, updated
Short answer: PAGASA raises Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals 1 to 5 over a province or city. Signal No. 1 means winds of 39 to 61 km/h within 36 hours, Signal No. 3 means 89 to 117 km/h within 18 hours, and Signal No. 5 means 185 km/h or higher within 12 hours. The signals are about wind only; rain has its own yellow, orange and red warnings.
Is a signal up now? This page has no live data. The PAGASA Tropical Cyclone Bulletin lists every province under a signal. Other official live pages are on where to check typhoon updates.
Written for the Philippines. Ang Signal No. 1 hanggang 5 ng PAGASA ay babala sa lakas ng hangin ng bagyo.
The five signals side by side
PAGASA puts a signal over an area that may get winds of at least 39 km/h within 36 hours. Each signal has a wind band, a lead time, which is the time before that wind is expected to start, and a list of likely damage.
The five wind signals, drawn to the wind each one starts at
Each bar is as tall as the lowest wind speed of its signal. The lead time under it is how long PAGASA expects before that wind arrives.
- 1
- 39 to 61 km/h, lead time 36 hours.
- 2
- 62 to 88 km/h, lead time 24 hours.
- 3
- 89 to 117 km/h, lead time 18 hours.
- 4
- 118 to 184 km/h, lead time 12 hours.
- 5
- 185 km/h or higher, lead time 12 hours.
Source: PAGASA, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (system in use since 23 March 2022). Read 8 November 2026.
| Signal | Wind | Lead time | PAGASA's threat level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 39 to 61 km/h | 36 hours | Strong winds. Minimal to minor threat to life and property. |
| 2 | 62 to 88 km/h | 24 hours | Gale-force winds. Minor to moderate threat to life and property. |
| 3 | 89 to 117 km/h | 18 hours | Storm-force winds. Moderate to significant threat to life and property. |
| 4 | 118 to 184 km/h | 12 hours | Typhoon-force winds. Significant to severe threat to life and property. |
| 5 | 185 km/h or higher | 12 hours | Typhoon-force winds. Extreme threat to life and property. |
Source: PAGASA, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (system in use since 23 March 2022). Read 8 November 2026.
Source: PAGASA, Legend, Tropical Cyclone Warning Icons table (wind threat and threat to life and property for each signal). Read 8 November 2026.
Signal No. 1: strong winds, 39 to 61 km/h
- Wind
- 39 to 61 km/h (22 to 33 knots)
- Lead time
- 36 hours before the wind is expected to start.
- PAGASA's threat level
- Minimal to minor threat to life and property
What PAGASA says Signal 1 can do
- Houses of poor construction (wood frame, bamboo, makeshift), old dilapidated structures and other structures made of light materials will suffer minimal to minor damage.
- Minimal disruption to public transportation.
What to do under Signal 1
Public school classes, in DepEd's words: "Classes for Kindergarten in the affected area shall be automatically suspended." If the signal is raised after classes have begun, DepEd says the school suspends classes and sends everyone home if it is safe to do so, or keeps them in school if travel has become unsafe.
PAGASA does not publish a separate to-do list for each signal. Read the lead time as the most time you may have to finish the typhoon checklist, and leave when your LGU or barangay calls an evacuation.
Source: PAGASA, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (system in use since 23 March 2022). Read 8 November 2026.
Source: Department of Education, DepEd Order No. 22, s. 2024, enclosure section 5.a, Typhoons and Tropical Cyclones (signed 23 December 2024). Read 8 November 2026.
Signal No. 2: gale-force winds, 62 to 88 km/h
- Wind
- 62 to 88 km/h (34 to 47 knots)
- Lead time
- 24 hours before the wind is expected to start.
- PAGASA's threat level
- Minor to moderate threat to life and property
What PAGASA says Signal 2 can do
- Houses of poor and average construction (unreinforced CHB or masonry, mixed timber and CHB) may receive minor roof damage.
- Unsecured, exposed lightweight items may become projectiles.
- Some electrical wires may be blown down, resulting in local power outages.
- Minor to moderate disruption to public transportation.
What to do under Signal 2
Public school classes, in DepEd's words: "Face to face classes for Kindergarten and Elementary to Junior High School or Grade 10 in the affected area shall be automatically suspended, provided that Elementary and JHS will shift to modular distance learning, performance tasks, projects, or make-up classes." If the signal is raised after classes have begun, DepEd says the school suspends classes and sends everyone home if it is safe to do so, or keeps them in school if travel has become unsafe.
PAGASA does not publish a separate to-do list for each signal. Read the lead time as the most time you may have to finish the typhoon checklist, and leave when your LGU or barangay calls an evacuation.
Source: PAGASA, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (system in use since 23 March 2022). Read 8 November 2026.
Source: Department of Education, DepEd Order No. 22, s. 2024, enclosure section 5.a, Typhoons and Tropical Cyclones (signed 23 December 2024). Read 8 November 2026.
Signal No. 3: storm-force winds, 89 to 117 km/h
- Wind
- 89 to 117 km/h (48 to 63 knots)
- Lead time
- 18 hours before the wind is expected to start.
- PAGASA's threat level
- Moderate to significant threat to life and property
What PAGASA says Signal 3 can do
- Houses of poor or average construction will have considerable roof damage, some blown-out windows, and/or partial wall damage. Well-constructed houses may suffer minimal to minor roof damage.
- Unsecured, exposed outdoor items of light to moderate weight may become projectiles, causing additional damage or injuries.
- Many areas may suffer power outages with numerous downed power lines and posts. Minimal to minor disruption in telecommunications and potable water supply.
- Moderate to significant disruption to public transportation.
What to do under Signal 3
Public school classes, in DepEd's words: "Classes and work in all levels in the affected area shall be automatically suspended." If the signal is raised after classes have begun, DepEd says the school suspends classes and sends everyone home if it is safe to do so, or keeps them in school if travel has become unsafe.
PAGASA does not publish a separate to-do list for each signal. Read the lead time as the most time you may have to finish the typhoon checklist, and leave when your LGU or barangay calls an evacuation.
Source: PAGASA, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (system in use since 23 March 2022). Read 8 November 2026.
Source: Department of Education, DepEd Order No. 22, s. 2024, enclosure section 5.a, Typhoons and Tropical Cyclones (signed 23 December 2024). Read 8 November 2026.
Signal No. 4: typhoon-force winds, 118 to 184 km/h
- Wind
- 118 to 184 km/h (64 to 99 knots)
- Lead time
- 12 hours before the wind is expected to start.
- PAGASA's threat level
- Significant to severe threat to life and property
What PAGASA says Signal 4 can do
- Houses of poor or average construction may receive major damage, including complete roof failure and possible wall collapse.
- Most well-constructed houses may suffer minor to moderate roof damage; blown-out windows are also likely.
- Considerable airborne debris will be generated and may cause damage, injury, and possible fatalities.
- Near total loss of power supply and telecommunications. Diminished availability of potable water supply is also likely.
- Significant to severe disruption to public transportation.
What to do under Signal 4
Public school classes, in DepEd's words: "Classes and work in all levels in the affected area shall be automatically suspended." If the signal is raised after classes have begun, DepEd says the school suspends classes and sends everyone home if it is safe to do so, or keeps them in school if travel has become unsafe.
PAGASA does not publish a separate to-do list for each signal. Read the lead time as the most time you may have to finish the typhoon checklist, and leave when your LGU or barangay calls an evacuation.
Source: PAGASA, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (system in use since 23 March 2022). Read 8 November 2026.
Source: Department of Education, DepEd Order No. 22, s. 2024, enclosure section 5.a, Typhoons and Tropical Cyclones (signed 23 December 2024). Read 8 November 2026.
Signal No. 5: typhoon-force winds, 185 km/h or higher
- Wind
- 185 km/h or higher (100 knots or higher)
- Lead time
- 12 hours before the wind is expected to start.
- PAGASA's threat level
- Extreme threat to life and property
What PAGASA says Signal 5 can do
- Severe to catastrophic damage is expected to houses of poor or average construction. Well-constructed houses may suffer substantial roof and wall failure or damage.
- Extensive damage will be caused by airborne debris. People, pets, and livestock exposed to the wind are at great risk of injury or death.
- Electricity, potable water supply, and telecommunications will be unavailable for prolonged periods.
- Prolonged significant to severe disruption to public transportation.
What to do under Signal 5
Public school classes, in DepEd's words: "Classes and work in all levels in the affected area shall be automatically suspended." If the signal is raised after classes have begun, DepEd says the school suspends classes and sends everyone home if it is safe to do so, or keeps them in school if travel has become unsafe.
PAGASA does not publish a separate to-do list for each signal. Read the lead time as the most time you may have to finish the typhoon checklist, and leave when your LGU or barangay calls an evacuation.
Source: PAGASA, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (system in use since 23 March 2022). Read 8 November 2026.
Source: Department of Education, DepEd Order No. 22, s. 2024, enclosure section 5.a, Typhoons and Tropical Cyclones (signed 23 December 2024). Read 8 November 2026.
Wind signal or rainfall warning: the difference
PAGASA runs two separate warnings. The numbered signal is about wind. The yellow, orange and red warning is about rain and the flooding it brings. One can be up without the other, so check both.
| Wind signal (1 to 5) | Rainfall warning | |
|---|---|---|
| What it warns about | Wind. PAGASA says the signal warns of "the threat of general wind strength" from a tropical cyclone. | Flooding from rain: possible at the first level, threatening at the second, severe flooding expected at the third. |
| The levels | Five, numbered 1 to 5. | Three. PAGASA's legend names them Advisory, Alert and Emergency and shows them as yellow, orange and red icons. |
| What the level is set by | The storm: its strength, how far its strong winds reach, and its forecast track and speed. | The legend describes each level by the flooding to expect, and states no rain figure. |
| The area it covers | Usually a province, independent component city or highly urbanized city. All of Metro Manila goes under one signal. A city or municipality can get its own if needed. | Areas named on PAGASA's regional forecast pages. |
| Warning time | A lead time for each signal: 36 hours for Signal 1, down to 12 hours for Signals 4 and 5. | The legend gives no lead time for a rainfall warning. |
| Does one tell you about the other? | No. PAGASA says the wind signal system "has no relation with the accompanying rainfall". | No. PAGASA's 2019 statement says lifting a wind signal does not mean the flood and landslide threat drops right away. |
| Public school classes (DepEd) | Signal 1: Kindergarten suspended. Signal 2: face to face Kindergarten to Grade 10 suspended. Signal 3 or above: all levels suspended. | Yellow: the mayor or governor decides. Orange or red before classes start: Kindergarten to Grade 12 and ALS suspended. |
| Where to check one now | The PAGASA Tropical Cyclone Bulletin. | The Rainfall Warning tab on the PAGASA regional forecast page for your area. |
The wind column is from PAGASA's wind signal page and its 2019 statement; the rainfall column from PAGASA's legend and regional forecast page. The school rows are DepEd's. What each rainfall color means is on the rainfall warnings page.
Source: PAGASA, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (system in use since 23 March 2022). Read 8 November 2026.
Source: PAGASA, Official statement on the heavy rainfall event associated with TD Usman, 16 January 2019. Read 8 November 2026.
Source: PAGASA, Legend, Rainfall Warning Icons (Advisory, Alert and Emergency). Read 8 November 2026. The legend names the levels Advisory, Alert and Emergency and uses no color words or millimetre figures. Its icons are yellow, orange and red, in that order. DepEd Order No. 22, s. 2024 calls them yellow, orange and red rainfall warnings.
Source: PAGASA, Regional Forecast, National Capital Region, Rainfall Warning tab. Read 8 November 2026.
Source: Department of Education, DepEd Order No. 22, s. 2024, enclosure section 5.a, Typhoons and Tropical Cyclones (signed 23 December 2024). Read 8 November 2026.
Source: Department of Education, DepEd Order No. 22, s. 2024: Revised Guidelines on Class and Work Suspension in Schools during Disasters and Emergencies (signed 23 December 2024). Read 8 November 2026.
Two things PAGASA says about the signals
A signal is the general wind over the province or city. PAGASA says local winds can be substantially stronger, especially over the sea and on high ground, and weaker in sheltered places.
Signals can skip a level. A place under Signal 1 can go straight to Signal 3 without passing through Signal 2.
Source: PAGASA, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (system in use since 23 March 2022). Read 8 November 2026.
Before the signal goes up
Most of the preparation can be done before a storm is named. The steps, from PAGASA and the DOH, are on the typhoon guide.
Typhoons: before, during and after What a bagyo is The go bag checklist