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Izzy Lee

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Weather reports must be clear and relatable, not out of touch with the public, as they play a crucial role in guiding behavior and enhancing community preparedness for impending storms, according to experts. Gerry Bagtasa, an atmospheric physicist from the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology at UP Diliman, emphasized several key factors that people should know about approaching typhoons. &quot;Unang-una: kung saan tatama. That would be very important since kung dun papunta ‘yung bagyo then you&#x27;d expect rainfall at tsaka wind. Very important din malaman kung gaano siya kalakas, kung ano &#x27;yung ine-expect na dami ng ulan and so on,&quot; Bagtasa said. (First and foremost, knowing where the storm will hit is essential because if it’s heading in that direction, you’d expect rain and strong winds. It’s also very important to know the storm&#x27;s intensity, the expected amount of rainfall, and so on.)<div> <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/10/24/-albay-received-2-months-worth-of-rain-in-24-hours-amid-kristine-onslaught-1035" id="isPasted">&#x27;Albay received 2 months&#x27; worth of rain in 24 hours amid Kristine onslaught&#x27;</a></div>He added that understanding a storm&#x27;s impact on the country is more important, regardless of whether it is inside or outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) – the region where PAGASA monitors and issues weather advisories. Bagtasa noted that while some storms may enter the PAR without causing significant effects, others outside of it can still pose serious threats.&quot;Dapat bigyan ng importansya is &#x27;yung inaasahan na impact nung hazard, in or outside ng PAR doesn&#x27;t really matter. Kung magkakaroon ng impact sa forecast then I think it should be reported,&quot; he said. (The expected impact of the hazard should be prioritized, regardless of whether it&#x27;s inside or outside the PAR. If the forecast shows an impact, then it should be reported.) &quot;&#x27;Yung iba naman na dumadaan lang, I think, may added value pa rin to tell people na may bagyo. Pwedeng i-report na papasok, pero wala namang inaasahang epekto ito, which is usally done naman,&quot; he added. (For storms that just pass through, I think there’s still value in informing people that a storm exists. It can be reported as entering, even if no impact is expected, which is usually the approach.) <div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/10/25/severe-storm-leaves-ph-towns-submerged-death-toll-rises-1405" id="isPasted">Severe storm leaves PH towns submerged, death toll rises</a></div>He added that forecasts play a crucial role in ensuring people&#x27;s safety and preparedness. Even on ordinary days, these can influence everyday decisions, such as whether to bring an umbrella.&quot;Kung alam mong binabaha &#x27;yung lugar mo, you can bring up &#x27;yung appliances... &#x27;Yung tubig bibili ka na prior, possible na mag-stock ka,&quot; he said. (If you know your area is prone to flooding, you can start lifting appliances and stock up on essentials like water ahead of time.) DELIVERING WEATHER REPORTS For Ariel Rojas, an ABS-CBN resident meteorologist who delivers weather reports on the primetime newscast TV Patrol, crafting forecasts goes beyond merely presenting data. &quot;Bilang weather forecaster, ina-analyze ko &#x27;yung weather patterns sa palibot ng Pilipinas and nilalapat ko din siya against sa nilalabas na forecast ng PAGASA. And mainly, gumagamit ako ng weather model natin sa TV Patrol at dun ko bine-base &#x27;yung forecast na ginagawa ko, and binabangga ko rin yan sa forecast ng PAGASA,&quot; Rojas said. (As a weather forecaster, I analyze the weather patterns around the Philippines and compare them with PAGASA’s forecast. Primarily, I use a weather model for TV Patrol as the basis for my forecasts, aligning it with PAGASA&#x27;s predictions.) This is where he gathers essential information for the public. For instance, he addresses questions about expected rain on weekends or whether to bring an umbrella for potentially sunny or rainy mornings to help people prepare for various scenarios.<div> <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/10/23/massive-flooding-hits-bicol-provinces-as-kristine-dumps-record-breaking-rains-946" id="isPasted">Massive flooding hits Bicol provinces as Kristine dumps record-breaking rains</a></div> &quot;Halimbawa, meron nang signal number 5 parang kailangan mong i-overemphasize ano ba ang ie-expect na weather conditions kapag may signal no. 5? Saka mo ipasok kung ano dapat yung paghahanda na kinakailangan,&quot; he said. (For example, if there’s already a Signal No. 5, it’s essential to overemphasize what weather conditions to expect with that warning. Then, you introduce the necessary preparations people should be making.) He also uses a green screen to display weather patterns, which helps illustrate complex data clearly. This visual aid makes forecasts more understandable and engaging for viewers. However, technical and scientific terminology in weather forecasting presents a challenge for forecasters like him in conveying the information clearly. &quot;Hindi maiiwasan hindi gamitin &#x27;yung technical terms... &#x27;Yung ibang terms kasi ay walang direct translation so ang ginagawa ko ay ginagamit ko &#x27;yung technical term pero pinapaliwanag ko kung ano nga ba iyon at hindi ko lang siya isang beses ginagamit kundi sa paulit-ulit na pagkakataon,&quot; he said. (It’s unavoidable to use technical terms. Some of these terms don’t have direct Filipino translations, so I use the technical term but make sure to explain what it means. I also repeat it multiple times to reinforce understanding.) INSTRUCTIONS OVER DESCRIPTIONS Dr. Inez Ponce de Leon, an associate professor at Ateneo de Manila University specializing in science communication, noted that their research conducted in various locations hit by Typhoon Yolanda, revealed that during critical moments, the public prioritizes clear guidance on actionable steps rather than a detailed understanding of weather data. <div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/31/reported-death-toll-from-kristine-leon-rises-to-150-ndrrmc-940" id="isPasted">Reported death toll from Kristine, Leon rises to 150: NDRRMC </a> </div>&quot;Nakikinig ang tao sa instruction dahil risky situation siya. Isipin mo na lang kung risky ang situation, gusto mo pa bang mag-isip kung anong gagawin mo sa information? Hindi... Kapag emergency na, weather reports might need to be more about instructions rather than description,&quot; she said. (People listen to instructions during risky situations. In emergencies, you don’t want to think about what to do with the information; you just want clear guidance. Weather reports should focus more on instructions rather than detailed descriptions during these critical moments.) She added that in the provinces, residents confirmed that they do listen to weather reports on TV or radio. However, they expressed a preference for waiting until their barangay officials personally visit their homes to issue evacuation orders. Ponce de Leon also suggested that weather reports should communicate how a storm could directly impact people&#x27;s lives. &quot;Minsan, wala sa science, wala sa impormasyon, nasa livelihood. Kung may pasok ang mga bata,  kung may trabaho ba sila. Kung may dapat ba silang gawin para ang bahay nila ay hindi mawasak,&quot; she said. (Sometimes, it’s not just about the science or the information; it’s about livelihoods. People want to know if the classes will be suspended, whether they’ll be able to work, and what steps they should take to protect their homes from damage.) <div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/10/31/violent-winds-heavy-rains-hit-basco-as-leon-grazes-batanes-1141" id="isPasted">Violent winds, heavy rains hit Basco as Leon grazed Batanes</a></div> More importantly, she noted that weather reports need to be relatable. She referenced an example where using phrases like &quot;enough rain to fill a swimming pool&quot; can feel disconnected for many Filipinos, especially low-income families, who may not relate to such imagery. &quot;If you can compare it to an experience of the person in that place that will help them understand the magnitude rather than just the meaning of the word and from that experience that helps kesa sa Tagalugin mo lang,&quot; she said. (If you can relate it to the personal experiences of individuals in that area, it will help them grasp the magnitude of the situation better than simply translating the terms.)

Weather reports must be clear and relatable, not out of touch with the public, as they play a crucial role in guiding behavior and enhancing community preparedness for impending storms, according to experts.

Weather reports must be clear and relatable, not out of touch with the public, as they play a crucial role in guiding behavior and enhancing community preparedness for impending storms, according to experts.

'Weather reports should be clear, relatable, impactful'

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'Weather reports should be clear, relatable, impactful'

Izzy Lee,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 01, 2024 10:47 PM PHT

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