Largest and Most Intense Tropical Cyclone On Record Hits the Philippines

mrspoonsi writes "A monstrous storm has arisen in the Western Pacific. The storm, called 'Supter-Typhoon Haiyan', has become the year's most intense. It bore down on the central Philippines this morning, packing winds up to 195 mph (314 km/h), with gusts up to 235 mph (378 km/h), threatening massive damage and sending over 100,000 people into evacuation centers. (Animation of landfall.) Flood waters went as high as 10 feet. The secretary general of the Philippine National Red Cross said, 'About 90% of the infrastructure and establishments were heavily damaged.'"

Comments

Level 7 on modified Saffir scale

[peter303]

The Saffir scale tops out Level 5, > 157 mph. But each level increases about 20-25 mph. It is essentially a 500 mile wide tornado.

Re:Level 7 on modified Saffir scale

[Mashiki]

Living in Canada, in an area where there fiercest winds we have are 100 km/h

Really? Really? Come on man, I'm in Alberta right now and we see 120km/h and 130km/h gusts through the mountains, and we haven't even hit on tornado's, updrafts(favorite in southern ontario), microbursts, and those lovely unpredictable t-storms in the summer that spawn in the lakes, or prairies. We sure do see winds higher than 100km/h.

Re:Manbearpig in 5...4...3...

[ColdWetDog]

Interesting,eh? This is when Slashdot moderation gets scary.

Re:oh noes

[fustakrakich]

Yeah, fuck 'em. I feel the same about the assholes who rebuilt their houses in the same place they were flooded out by the Mississippi river, and demanded to be covered by their insurance at the same rates! The Mexicans sat under Wilma for 48 full hours and nobody died and property damage was minimal, including the houses on the beach. Lights were back on in the center of town in less than 12 hours. Well made concrete and underground electrical lines hold up pretty well. Sorry, I cannot sympathize. Their houses were flattened because they were not built to withstand a little wind and rain. A hurricane should not be a big deal. And they aren't with a little foresight and proper planning, and a lot less tolerance for corrupt government/corporate power. They serve as a reminder to stock up on more beer.