After Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: FungโWong) hit northern Luzon, social media buzzed with claims that the SierraโฏMadre mountain range โbroke the eyeโ of the storm. Images showed a well-defined eye before landfall and a degraded one afterward, leading many to credit the mountain range with weakening the super typhoon.
The mountains as a natural buffer
The SierraโฏMadre is the Philippinesโ longest mountain range, stretching along eastern Luzon.
Meteorologists and disaster management experts say such mountains can:
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Disrupt the stormโs circulation by creating friction and forcing winds upward.
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Increase rainfall on the eastern slopes, which can sap energy from the cyclone.
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Weaken typhoons after landfall, as storms lose energy over land and rugged terrain.
In short, the mountains can reduce a stormโs intensity, but they do not automatically โbreakโ its eye.
What the science shows
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PAGASA bulletins noted Uwanโs eye became less distinct after landfall near Dinalungan, Aurora.
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Satellite images confirm the eye degraded as the storm crossed Luzon.
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However, there is no peer-reviewed or official scientific study confirming that the SierraโฏMadre alone caused the eye to collapse. Other factors, like natural weakening after landfall and storm dynamics, also play a role.
Why this matters
Understanding how terrain affects typhoons is important for disaster preparedness.
Mountains like the SierraโฏMadre can help reduce wind speeds and storm intensity.
But residents should not rely solely on geography for protection.ย Evacuation and early-warning systems remain critical.
The takeaway
The SierraโฏMadre likely helped weaken Super Typhoon Uwan.
Claims that it โbroke the eyeโ are more anecdotal than scientifically proven, however. Itโs best described as a natural buffer, not a miracle barrier.
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