Monsoons - A complex hazard for the Philippines

Monsoons, part of the rainy season cycle in the Philippines, are both a norm and a hazard. Compounded by typhoon activity, which will be explored later, monsoon rains can lead to flooding and landslides.
Monsoons are a natural part of the weather cycle in the Philippines, that have to do with the effect of difference in temperature between the ocean and land on the sea breezes. NOAA monitors global monsoon activity in their Climate Prediction Center. This information on ocean temperatures is available online for anyone to access.

 (Table from NOAA)
In the Philippines, there are the summer monsoons (June-November), the "rainy" season, that move westerly and bring heavy drenching rainfall, and there are winter monsoons (December-May) that move easterly, and can bring dry conditions (and sometimes drought). The Philippines has between 70% and 85% humidity, year-round, and there is also rainfall year-round.

(Graphic from Panahon TV and PEGASA)
Monsoon seasons are unpredictable, they can start early or start late, bring too little rain or bring too much. This can create significant problems for growing food and tending livestock, as well as for dealing with the secondary consequences of flooding, mudslides, landslides, and sinkholes.

 (Photo from Photos of the Week, Sf.Co.Ua, August 2012)
PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) is the weather monitoring agency in the Philippines, they issue weather warnings about rain, typhoons, and flooding. They are responsible for forecasting for aviation and marine hazards that could impact transportation and shipping, and they also issue impact assessments for agriculture. They have a rainfall and thunderstorm warning system, on a spectrum of advisory-alert-emergency for rainfall, and information-watch-advisory for thunderstorms, the outreach methods besides their website also include social media and SMS messages to affected areas. There is also a PAGASA app for android phones.

 (Photo from Photos of the Week, Sf.Co.Ua, August 2012)

References: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/Global_Monsoons/Global-Monsoon.shtml, http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/monsoon/monsoon_whatis.pdf, http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/, http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/index.php/climate-of-the-philippines, http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/index.php/agriculture/impact-assessment-for-agriculture, http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/index.php/20-weather/29-rainfall-warnings, http://photo.sf.co.ua/id22