The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) will use a new set of storm names this year for tropical cyclones that will form within or enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).
“Aghon,” “Querubin,” “Romina,” and “Upang” are being used for the first time, the state weather bureau said. They take the places of storm names Ambo, Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses which brought severe damage in 2020.
If there are more than 25 storms in a year, PAGASA can refer to an auxiliary list of 10 other names. Storm names repeat every four years unless retired. PAGASA retires or decommissions a storm name if it causes at least 300 deaths or P1 billion in damage to agriculture, infrastructure, houses, and other assets.