The January 2009 anomalous precipitation associated with the “Tail-end of the Cold Front” weather system in Northern and Eastern Mindanao (Philippines): Natural hazards, impacts and risk reductions

In the first half of January 2009, the southern Philippine island of Mindanao was overwhelmed by numerous natural disasters caused by the passage of the tail-end of the cold front. This otherwise ordinary weather condition was accompanied by unusually heavy precipitation sustained over a period of several days. This triggered numerous landslides and caused many drainage systems to swell, flooding huge tracts of low lying areas that have not experienced similar events in the recent past. Many communities were caught unprepared for the calamity. The amount and extent of damage reflect both the magnitude of the natural disaster itself and the community's nominal level of disaster-preparedness. In view of the increasing atmospheric moisture levels and the likelihood that global warming will affect the weather patterns, there is a possibility that similar weather disturbances can become more frequent. Therefore, there is an urgent need for disaster risk management programs to be developed or enhanced at the local community level especially in areas most vulnerable to weather-related natural hazards, in light of changing global climatic patterns.

Research Highlights▶ Unusually prolonged, heavy rains in January 2009 devastated Mindanao, Philippines. ▶ Shared effects of antecedent rainfall, geography and geology resulted in disasters. ▶ The anomalously wet cold front is linked to global increase in atmospheric moisture. ▶ Urgent institutionalization of disaster risk management at local levels is needed.