Tropical Storm Penha,known in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Basyang,[a] was a weak but costly tropical cyclone that affected a few areas in Luzon,including Mimaropa and Masbate,and in most areas in Visayas and Mindanao. The second named storm of the 2026 Pacific typhoon season,Penha originated from a low-pressure area that formed east-northeast of Yap. The system was classified as a tropical depression by the JMA on February 3,while PAGASA named it Basyang. On February 4,the JTWC followed suit,while designating it as 02W. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) then upgraded the depression into a tropical storm,assigning it the name Penha at 21:00 JST (12:00 UTC) of the same day,the replacement name of Vongfong after the 2020 season. The JTWC followed suit on the following day. On February 6,the storm weakened into a tropical depression a couple hours after it made landfall over Bayabas,Surigao del Sur late on February 5. The system made four consecutive landfalls in Central Visayas,before being declared as a remnant low. The system dissipated on February 7.
Four people,including two children,were killed by a landslide overnight in Cagayan de Oro. Another death was reported in Iligan,where a local broadcaster died of cardiac arrest after her apartment was flooded. Economic loss in Surigao del Sur was reported to be topped up to ₱1.48 billion (US$25.24 million),while subsequently under a state of calamity. A total of 1,373 houses were damaged,while the storm left 36 injuries in Northern Mindanao.
Meteorological history
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity,according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
A low-pressure area was spotted by the JMA on February 2.[1] On February 3, at 17:30 PHT (09:30 UTC), the system entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), with PAGASA assigning it the name Basyang.[2][3] At 12:00 UTC on February 3, the JMA reported that the system had become a tropical depression,[4] reporting that it, moving west-northwest along the southern part of a subtropical high had a favorable environment with high sea surface temperatures and tropical cyclone heat potential, weak vertical wind shear and good outflow.[5] Two hours later, the JTWC issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert, reporting that the elongated low-level circulation with flaring but fragmented convection had a possibility of becoming a tropical cyclone.[6]
On February 4, at 03:00 UTC, the JTWC had issued its first warning on the tropical depression, designating it as 02W.[7] The system was cited by satellite imagery with a partially exposed and well-defined LLCC, being displaced to the south of flaring convection.[8] The system became highly asymmetric and disorganized as it experienced slow consolidation, while lacking organized banding and deep convection being displaced.[9] On 18:00 UTC, the JMA upgraded the system into a tropical storm, assigning it the name Penha.[10]PAGASA followed suit afterwards.[11]A microwave pass revealed a well-defined but broad circulation, while the system tracking westwards is experiencing marginally favorable, environmental conditions.[12]The storm's LLCC became heavily sheared, with convection being displaced in the northwest.[13]
On the following day, February 5, the JTWC officially upgraded Penha into a tropical storm, while slowly consolidated. The system started to have improved vertical alignment inside warm, sea-surface temperatures, with moderate vertical wind shear and poleward outflow.[14]Due to limited firmness, the JMA noted that the storm has maintained its strength, while active, convective cloud clusters separate, interfering from intensification.[15]The JTWC then reported the storm's low-level fragmented cloud lines wrapping beneath the flaring convection, while undergoing slow consolidation.[16]At 15:00 UTC, Penha experienced an obscured LLCC, with unfavorable vertical wind shear,[17]followed by deteriorating circulation with rapidly warming top cloud temperatures.[18]The storm is moving in a west-northwestwards direction, while inside a neutral environment for intensification.[19] At 23:50 PHT (15:50 PHT), Penha made its first landfall over Bayabas, Surigao del Sur.[20]
On February 6, the JTWC downgraded Penha into a tropical depression, as a result of rapidly losing cloud structure, cooling sea-surface temperatures, and high vertical wind shear.[21]PAGASA followed suit on 11:00 PHT (03:00 UTC), while the system made its second landfall over Jagna, Bohol.[22][23] On 06:00 UTC, in JMA's final advisory, the agency downgraded Penha into a tropical depression due to unfavorable environment and interaction with land.[24] The system made a third landfall afterwards, over Dauis, also in Bohol at 16:00 PHT (08:00 UTC).[25]After landfall, the system was reported with its LLCC being disorganized, and its vertical structure tilting due to marginally unfavorable conditions.[26] Penha made two more consecutive landfalls; a fourth over Alcoy, Cebu at 19:50 PHT (11:50 PHT), and a fifth and final landfall over Ayungon, Negros Oriental at 21:00 PHT (13:00 UTC).[27]Afterwards, the system becomes increasingly disorganized, with broad LLCC and decaying surface intensities, while tracking northwestward.[28] On the following day, February 7, at 02:00 PHT (18:00 UTC the previous day), PAGASA downgraded Penha into a remnant low,[29] until it was declared dissipated at 08:00 PHT (00:00 UTC).[30]
On February 4, Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya ordered a suspension of classes due to adverse weather conditions by the storm, as well as 17 local government units (LGUs) in the provincial government of Negros Occidental.[45] The local governments of San Fernando, Bukidnon and Valencia also suspended classes while under its blue alert status.[46]In Marawi on February 5, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (PDRRM) in Lanao del Sur proposed precautionary measures in activities around Lake Lanao and coastal areas. Government offices and classes in Marawi, Amai Manabilang, Lumba-Bayabao, Mulondo, and Saguiaran were suspended from February 5–6 due to the storm.[47]Cebu City mayor Nestor Archival Sr. activated the city's blue alert status, and also suspended classes in Carmen, Compostela, Cordova, Catmon, Sogod, and Daanbantayan, also in Cebu.[48] Free bus rides were ordered in the city to alleviate transport disruption, mostly around Colon Street.[49]The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) temporarily suspended voyages of vessels and watercraft plying routes from Oriental Mindoro to Aklan.[50]23,419 ready-to-eat food items and 14,877 non-food items are positioned in various ports in Iloilo, Aklan, and Antique as a standby fund amounting to ₱3 million (US$51,297.84) for immediate utilization.[51]Cagayan de Oro Mayor Rolando Uy ordered suspension of work in local government offices on February 5–6.[52]On February 6, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) of Antique deployed a response team in Anini-y, while some major highways in the province were monitored, especially in Patnongon.[53]
On February 3, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) operations center raised its Blue Alert status as the storm was nearing the country.[54] On the following day, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also activated its blue alert status. The department also prepositioned 3.5 million food packs in all its regional hubs across the country. A ₱3.04 billion (US$51.56 million) Quick Response Fund (QRF) is utilized to cover relief and early recovery operations during the storm.[55]On February 5, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and its regional and local units implemented pre-emptive evacuations and measures in the affected areas, with maximum development in high-risk areas.[56]On the following day, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) responded to the local government units (LGUs), and advised the provincial and municipal governments to close roads temporarily until the affected areas are declared safe.[57]
Impact
Some villages were submerged and roads were cut off in the municipalities of Cantilan, Madrid, Lanuza, Cortes, San Miguel, Bayabas, and Carmen in Surigao del Sur. The Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) of the province assessed infrastructural loss costing ₱876.9 million (US$14.98 million), and agricultural losses costing ₱599.36 million (US$10.26 million), making up an economic loss of ₱1.48 billion (US$25.24 million) in Surigao del Sur alone.[58]The province was declared under a state of calamity, with reports of deaths of a child who was buried by a landslide in Cortes, and a woman who got swept away by flood surges in Carmen.[59]The local governments of Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte and Mainit, Surigao del Norte gave a combined worth of assistance of ₱875,827 (US$15,051.20) to those residents and evacuees who were hit by floods.[60]
A total of 182,352 families were affected during the storm's onslaught. 1,203 houses were partially damaged, while 170 houses were totally damaged. Additionally, 36 injuries were recorded in Northern Mindanao alone.[61][62] The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) provided ₱27 million (US$461,775.33) worth of humanitarian assistance to families affected by Penha. A landslide was recorded in the town of Balamban. A river overflowed in Cebu City near the Lusaran Dam. Several motorbancas were damaged by huge waves in Caubian Island, Lapu-Lapu City.[63][64] Three rivers swelled in Gingoog, while under a red alert status.[65] The Panul-iran bridge, which connects Iligan and Marawi, collapsed and swept away by a strong current in the Iligan River.[66]A family of four was killed by a landslide in Cagayan de Oro.[67]
Tropical Storm Washi (2011; Sendong) – a slightly stronger and more destructive system which also severely affected Northern Mindanao
Tropical Storm Bolaven (2018; Agaton) - an early-season tropical storm that persisted from 2017, which made landfall in both Caraga and Central Visayas
Tropical Storm Sanba (2018; Basyang) – a tropical storm with the same Philippine name that affected the same areas as Penha
Typhoon Koto (2025; Verbena) – a moderately strong tropical cyclone which made landfall in almost the same areas as Penha
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