Typhoon Ragasa
Typhoon Ragasa, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Nando, was an extremely powerful, large, and destructive tropical cyclone that severely affected the northernmost portions of Luzon island in the Philippines and Hualien County in Taiwan, and impacted Hong Kong, Macau, South China and Vietnam in late September 2025. It is also the second most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 2025, after Hurricane Melissa in the Atlantic. Ragasa, which means sudden quickening movement in Filipino, is the eighteenth named storm, fifth typhoon, and both the only violent typhoon and Category 5-equivalent super typhoon of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season, Ragasa originated from an area of convection north of Yap that developed into a tropical depression on September 17. Moderate wind shear initially limited organization, but the system was upgraded to a tropical storm the following day and assigned the name Ragasa by the Japan Meteorological Agency. It gradually intensified over the next two days, becoming a typhoon on September 19. The storm underwent rapid intensification the next morning, reaching its peak intensity as a violent typhoon with a minimum central pressure of and ten-minute sustained winds of, and as a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon on the Saffir–Simpson scale with one-minute maximum sustained winds of early on September 22. Shortly thereafter, Ragasa entered an eyewall replacement cycle while retaining its intensity.
Ragasa later made landfall over Panuitan Island in Calayan, Cagayan, bringing heavy rains and strong winds over the area and Northern Luzon, and the highest No. 5 signal was issued over the Babuyan Islands. The storm started to weaken gradually as it entered the South China Sea, with a second eyewall replacement cycle having commenced. It later passed near the south of Hong Kong, where the Hong Kong Observatory issued the highest wind signal, Hurricane Signal No. 10, for the second time this year since Wipha two months before and the first occurrence of the signal being hoisted twice in a year since 1964. Ragasa made landfall over Hailing Island in Yangjiang, Guangdong province, in southern China on September 24, and on the following day it crossed the coastal area of Guangxi province in China and Quảng Ninh province in Vietnam as a weakening tropical storm before dissipating in the mountain regions of Northern Vietnam.
Ragasa generated extensive flooding and landslides in the Philippines, Taiwan and Hong Kong that caused at least 29 fatalities and 219 injuries, with 18 people killed and 6 reported missing from a bursting of the Matai'an Creek Barrier Lake in Taiwan.
Meteorological history
On September 16, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center identified an area of convection approximately north of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia. Environmental analysis indicated favorable conditions for further development, including low vertical wind shear, improved equatorward outflow, and warm sea surface temperatures. The Japan Meteorological Agency began issuing advisories the following day, classifying the disturbance as a tropical depression. Conditions later became marginal, with a poorly organized broad circulation center and weakening central convection. The system entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility around 20:00 PHT, where the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration classified it as a tropical depression and assigned the name Nando. Upon moving into the Philippine Sea on September 18, Nando encountered more favorable conditions while tracking northwestward. At 22:05 JST, the JMA upgraded the system to a tropical storm and named it Ragasa, a Filipino word meaning sudden quickening movement, the replacement for Hagibis after it was retired following the 2019 season. The JTWC designated it as 24W later that day at 18:00 UTC. Ragasa continued to consolidate, supported by strong equatorward outflow as it tracked west-northwestward.At 21:00 UTC on September 19, the JTWC upgraded Ragasa to a minimal typhoon as an eye-like feature began to form. The JMA upgraded the system to a typhoon at 15:00 JST on September 20. Rapid intensification ensued as the typhoon developed a well-defined eye within an intense central dense overcast. By 08:00 PHT on September 21, PAGASA upgraded Ragasa to a super typhoon. At 09:00 UTC, the JTWC likewise upgraded it to a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon, with estimated one-minute sustained winds of and a minimum central pressure of, the first such instance during the season. Multispectral imagery indicated that Ragasa moved west-northwestward while exhibiting a looping trochoidal motion, characterised by a wobbling, spiral-like track. Around this time, a drifting buoy with the designation number 7810602 passed through the eye of Ragasa and measured an unofficial pressure of. While maintaining Category 5 intensity, Ragasa underwent an eyewall replacement cycle early on September 22, with satellite data showing a symmetric ring of convection with cloud tops near, an eye temperature of, and well-defined spiral banding. As it moved west, satellite imagery showed slight weakening of core convection, with cooler cloud tops and a more asymmetric structure, though the eye remained intact. Meanwhile, the JMA classified Ragasa as a violent typhoon at 09:00 JST, estimating ten-minute sustained winds of and a central pressure of.
At 15:00 PHT, Ragasa made landfall at peak intensity on Panuitan Island in Calayan, Cagayan. Following landfall, satellite imagery indicated that Ragasa had slightly weakened and entered another eyewall replacement cycle as the eye became cloud-filled. Shortly after this cycle, the typhoon maintained steady movement, forming a symmetric eye. Satellite imagery also depicted strong radial outflow and deeper moisture concentrated on the storm's southern side as it began to weaken gradually. Its eye subsequently contracted to, with intermittent cloud cover obscuring the ocean surface, though it remained a Category 4-equivalent typhoon while tracking west-northwestward into the South China Sea. In their subsequent advisory, the JTWC noted that Ragasa still maintained a eye, with an asymmetric CDO over the eyewall. As it passed south of Hong Kong, satellite imagery showed a large, circular convective system with strong banding fully encircling its center. Its eye later became fully-filled as it neared the southern coastline of China. At 17:00 CST on September 24, Ragasa made landfall over Hailing Island in Yangjiang, Guangdong province, China, followed by a third landfall in Beihai, Guangxi on the morning of September 25. According to the Vietnamese National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the system weakened into a tropical depression as it entered the waters close to Quảng Ninh province in Vietnam on the morning of September 25. At 12:00 ICT, NCHMF considered the tropical depression to have made landfall over Quảng Ninh Province. Later, rapid weakening later ensued as it interacted with land, causing the JTWC to discontinue warnings later the same day. The JMA also ceased warnings at 21:00 JST as the system was reportedly dissipated. It was last noted as a low-pressure area by the HKO at 12:00 UTC on September 25 at 22.0°N106.1°E, approximately north of Hanoi, Vietnam.
Preparations
Philippines
PAGASA warned of possible torrential rainfall and strong winds to be brought by Ragasa, along with the potential impact of the southwest monsoon. It also warned of storm surges of up to affecting the coasts of Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.On September 20 at 17:00 PHT, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 was issued over the entire provinces of Abra, Apayao, the Babuyan Islands, Batanes, Cagayan, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Isabela, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Quirino, northeastern Nueva Vizcaya, and the northern and central portions of both Aurora and Catanduanes. As the storm continued to approach Luzon, the signal was also hoisted over northern Ilocos Sur. The signal was further extended at 23:00 PHT to include Benguet, the entire provinces of Ilocos Sur and Nueva Vizcaya, La Union, eastern Pangasinan, and northern Nueva Ecija.
On September 21 at 05:00 PHT, PAGASA upgraded the warning to Signal No. 2 for the entire provinces of Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, Cagayan, as well as eastern portions of Apayao and Kalinga, and northeastern Isabela. At the same time, Signal No. 1 was raised over the entire provinces of Aurora and Pangasinan, northern and central Nueva Ecija and Tarlac, northern Zambales, and the remaining areas previously under Signal No. 2. Signal No. 2 was also hoisted over the entire province of Apayao, northern Ilocos Norte, and northern and eastern Isabela six hours later. PAGASA further escalated the alert by raising Signal No. 3 over the entire province of Batanes, the Babuyan Islands, and the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan. Signal No. 2 was raised over the entire provinces of Abra, Apayao, Ilocos Norte, Kalinga, northern Ilocos Sur, eastern Mountain Province, and the rest of Cagayan. Meanwhile, Signal No. 1 was issued for the entire provinces of La Union, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan and Tarlac, the northern portions of Bulacan, Pampanga, and Quezon, as well as the Polillo Islands.
At 23:00 PHT, Signal No. 3 was raised in the northern and central portions of Apayao and Cagayan, and northern Ilocos Norte. Signal No. 2 was raised in the central portions of Isabela and Mountain Province and eastern Ifugao, while Signal No. 1 was raised in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, and Zambales. The following day, at 08:00 PHT, for the first time during the season, PAGASA raised Wind Signal No. 5, the highest category, over the northern and central portions of the Babuyan Islands, while Signal No. 4 was raised over the northeastern and northwestern portion of mainland Cagayan, northernmost Ilocos Norte, southeastern Batanes, and the rest of the Babuyan Islands. Signal No. 5 was extended to include the entirety of the Babuyan Islands at 11:00 PHT. All wind signals were removed as Ragasa moved away from the Philippines on September 24.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council issued alerts for possible flooding in several barangays of the National Capital Region that could be brought by the typhoon, specifically in Muntinlupa, Taguig, Manila, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, San Juan, Quezon City, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela. The Office of Civil Defense also responded, ramping up emergency operations during the typhoon's rapid intensification over the Philippine Sea. An emergency meeting was convened in Quezon City on the afternoon of September 20 to ensure preparedness and safety measures against the combined effects of the typhoon, the southwest monsoon, and a low-pressure area – formerly Tropical Storm Mitag. At least 111 families, or about 380 individuals, were evacuated from parts of the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon. The Department of Interior and Local Government issued advisories on evacuations and a no-sailing policy, while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources warned the mining sector of possible hazards. The Ambuklao, Binga, and Magat Dams opened their gates as a precaution.
The Philippine National Police also prepared for the typhoon's impact. PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez directed local police units to ready personnel, vehicles, and communication assets for possible disaster evacuations in high-risk areas. Police officers also prepared for worst-case scenarios, working with local government units on evacuation and rescue operations.
Many areas in Luzon, including Metro Manila, and the Visayan province of Antique, declared class suspensions at all levels and government work cancellations on September 22, due to the possible impacts of Ragasa and the enhanced southwest monsoon. Thirty-two schools were also converted into evacuation centers.