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Typhoon Haiyan facts for kids

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Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)
Typhoon (JMA scale)
Category 5 super typhoon (SSHWS)
Haiyan Nov 7 2013 1345Z.png
Typhoon Haiyan at peak intensity, on November 7
Formed November 3, 2013
Dissipated November 11, 2013
Highest winds 10-minute sustained: 230 km/h (145 mph)
1-minute sustained: 315 km/h (195 mph)
Lowest pressure 895 hPa (mbar); 26.43 inHg
(Estimated)
Fatalities 6,241 confirmed, 1,785 missing
Damage $1.5 billion (2013 USD)
(Preliminary total)
Areas affected
Part of the 2013 Pacific typhoon season

Typhoon Haiyan, also called Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones in history. It began forming on November 2, 2013, in the western Pacific Ocean. The storm grew very quickly. It became a super typhoon, which is the strongest type of tropical cyclone.

Typhoon Haiyan 2013-11-12 0000
Typhoon Haiyan as it moved across the Philippines.

What is a Typhoon?

A typhoon is a very strong storm that forms over warm ocean waters. It is like a hurricane or a cyclone. These storms have powerful winds and heavy rain. They can cause a lot of damage when they hit land.

How Haiyan Formed

Typhoon Haiyan started as a small area of low pressure. This happened east-southeast of Pohnpei, an island in Micronesia. The warm ocean water helped it grow stronger very fast. It became a tropical storm on November 3, 2013.

Haiyan's Incredible Strength

Haiyan quickly became a super typhoon. Its winds reached speeds of about 195 miles per hour (315 km/h). This made it one of the most powerful storms ever recorded to make landfall. It was so strong that some experts called it the strongest tropical system to ever hit land.

Haiyan's Path and Impact

Typhoon Haiyan moved west across the Pacific Ocean. It gained more strength as it got closer to the Philippines. The storm hit the central Philippines with full force.

Hitting the Philippines

Haiyan made landfall in the Philippines on November 8, 2013. It brought extremely high winds and a massive storm surge. A storm surge is like a giant wall of water pushed onto land by the storm. This surge caused a lot of flooding.

Damage and Effects

The storm caused huge damage, especially in the Visayas region of the Philippines. Many homes and buildings were destroyed. Roads and power lines were also badly damaged. This made it hard for people to get help.

Sadly, thousands of people lost their lives. Many more were injured or went missing. The storm also affected millions of people who lost their homes or livelihoods. The total damage was estimated to be very high.

After the Storm

After Haiyan passed, many countries and organizations sent help. They provided food, water, medicine, and shelter. Rescue teams worked hard to find survivors. People worked together to start rebuilding their communities.

Recovery Efforts

The recovery from Typhoon Haiyan was a long process. It took a lot of effort to clear debris and rebuild homes. Many people helped to bring life back to normal in the affected areas. This included local volunteers and international aid workers.

Images for kids

  • Comparison between Haiyan and Katrina

    Geographical images of Typhoon Haiyan (2013) and Hurricane Katrina (2005) for size and temperature comparison.

  • Haiyan 2013 landfall

    Animated satellite view of Typhoon Haiyan from its strongest point to landfall in the Philippines.

  • Haiyan 2013-11-06 0225Z

    Typhoon Haiyan near Palau on November 6.

  • YolandaRainfallWarning

    PAGASA rainfall warning advisory for Central and Eastern Visayas during Haiyan's passage.

  • Yolanda PSWS Map

    PSWS Map in the Philippines during Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda).

  • Radar loop of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) making landfall on Leyte Island

    Weather radar view of Haiyan's landfall on Leyte Island. Tacloban City was hit by the strongest part of the storm.

  • Visayas, Philippines power outage before and after Haiyan 2013

    Animated satellite comparison of power outages across the Visayas after Typhoon Haiyan.

  • Operation Damayan 131118-M-LT992-019

    An aerial view of Guiuan, the town where the typhoon first made landfall.

  • U.S. Marine Corps HC-130 Hercules aircraft assigned to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and other military aircraft sit on the tarmac at an airport in Guiuan, Philippines, waiting to airlift Philippine 131117-N-XN177-381

    Devastated coconut trees in Guiuan.

  • Tacloban Typhoon Haiyan 2013-11-13

    The remains of a home destroyed by the storm in Tacloban City.

  • Tacloban Typhoon Haiyan 2013-11-14

    Debris littering the streets of Tacloban City on November 14, nearly a week after the storm struck.

  • US marines Typhoon Haiyan relief

    U.S. Marines assisting in the Philippine disaster relief.

  • First UK-funded humanitarian flight arrives in Cebu, Philippines - 10826427444

    First UK-funded humanitarian flight arrives at Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Tifón Haiyan para niños

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