Typhoon Frequency Impacts Philippine Ube Harvests

A typhoon is moving northwest-west across the sea east of the Philippines. A typhoon is currently located at 141 degrees East and 13 degrees North in the waters east of the Philippines. The typhoon is moving west-northwest with center wind speeds of 51 meters per second. The Philippines has experienced a increase in typhoons, with an estimated 25 or more occurring last year. Climate change is impacting weather patterns, causing rain to fail during the rainy season and occur during the dry season. The shift in weather patterns is affecting agricultural trends and consumer markets. Increased typhoon frequency is damaging agricultural yields in the Philippines. Last year, the country experienced at least 25 typhoons, with some periods seeing 4 to 5 typhoons within five weeks. This weather pattern is causing crop destruction, forcing the country to import ube to meet domestic demand despite being a major consumer. The source noted that climate change is contributing to unpredictable rainfall during the dry season.