Super Typhoon

Published on 05 Dec 2025

• The Philippines was hit by Super Typhoon Ragasa in 2025, with winds reaching 250–280 km/h, making it the strongest tropical cyclone of the year. 

• It is classified as a Category 5 super typhoon on the Saffir-Simpson scale, which ranks cyclones based on sustained wind speed.

• A tropical cyclone has a “clean” side and a “dirty” side. 

• On the right-hand side of the storm (relative to its direction of movement), the forward motion of the storm adds to the rotational wind speed, making winds stronger and more destructive - This is called the “dirty side”.

• On the left-hand side, the forward motion subtracts from the rotation, so winds are weaker, making it the “clean side”.

• This is why most damage usually occurs on the right-hand side of a moving cyclone in the northern hemisphere, while the opposite is true in the southern hemisphere.

  
  

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Keywords:

Super Typhoon Philippines Ragasa tropical cyclone Saffir-Simpson scale Cyclone Hurricane