A massive tornado outbreak hit the Philippines in September 2025, producing multiple supercells in a region where they are almost never seen.
April 24, 2026
Original Paper
Localized Tornado Outbreak at the Upstream of a Tropical Easterly Wave in Camarines Norte, Philippines (13 September 2025)
arXiv · 2604.20222
The Takeaway
Simultaneous tornadic supercells occurred within a tropical easterly weather regime in Camarines Norte. Tornadoes are traditionally considered an extreme rarity in the Philippines, but this event documented several occurring at once. This outbreak challenges long-standing assumptions that the regional climate is incapable of supporting such violent, rotating storms. The data shows that the atmospheric conditions required for these disasters can develop even without a major typhoon nearby. Meteorologists must now reconsider the risk profiles for coastal communities that were previously thought to be safe from tornado damage.
From the abstract
(Abridge) On 13 September 2025 around 22 UTC, a localized tornado outbreak affected eastern Philippines, causing significant damage in Camarines Norte. The event developed within an atypical easterly severe weather regime characterized by warm, moist southeasterly flow and strong low-level wind shear associated with an easterly wave trough. A vorticity convergence zone along the inverted trough enhanced low-level rotation, while highly curved streamwise hodographs indicated a favorable environme