Tornado in the Metro: Quick and Helpful Explainers

Screengrab from news5.com.ph.

CHEERS TO ABS-CBN 2’s TV Patrol and TV5’s Aksyon for explaining in simple terms how a tornado develops. Tornados are an uncommon weather phenomenon in the Philippines but one ripped through some communities in Manila and Quezon City on Aug. 14.

A report by Aksyon a day after the incident (“PAGASA: Severe thunderstorm sa Metro Manila, dahilan ng pagkabuo ng buhawi,” Aug. 15, 2016) explained that a severe thunderstorm—during which hot and cold air masses collide, creating instability in the atmosphere resulting into a rotating column of air— developed over Metro Manila and caused the emergence of a tornado. Using animation, the report showed how the tornado was formed. Aksyon also interviewed the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) for further information on the weather disturbance.

ABS-CBN 2’s TV Patrol made a similar effort in its “Kaunting Kaalaman” segment on August 15 and also illustrated the report with animation. TV Patrol also provided viewers tips on how to tell if a tornado is coming.

Quick explainers on unusual weather phenomena such as tornados are useful to the public who may be vulnerable to such destructive forces. They may prove even more useful to people who reside in communities that do not usually see these types of natural events.