What Every Expat Needs to Know About the Climate, Typhoons, and Natural Disasters in the Philippines

Everyone dreams about tropical beaches, palm trees, and year-round warm weather.

Very few people spend much time thinking about typhoons, earthquakes, brownouts, flooding, or what happens when the internet goes down for two days.

I really never thought too much about things like typhoons or earthquakes, those things happened to other people. However, looking back I can think of at least 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Retiring in the Philippines

If you’re considering retiring in the Philippines, understanding the climate isn’t optional.

It’s part of the retirement plan.

The Philippines Is Hot. Really Hot.

• 80–95°F year-round – I was actually surprised when I arrived in the Philippines for the first time at noon on an April day. Having been born and raised in Missouri, I found it no worse than a typical August afternoon back home. The heat itself wasn’t the shock I expected.
• Humidity is the real challenge – The factor that makes tropical living difficult for many newcomers isn’t the temperature—it’s the humidity. Air conditioning doesn’t just cool the air; it removes moisture, which can make the difference between feeling comfortable and feeling miserable.
• Air conditioning costs – If you run your air conditioner 24 hours a day, seven days a week, like I do, you’re obviously going to pay more for electricity. For me, comfort is one expense I’m willing to budget for.
• Adjusting outdoor activities – I’ve learned to keep outdoor activities to a minimum during the hottest part of the day, usually between 2:00 and 4:00 PM. If I’m going out to eat, I often look for restaurants along the water where I can enjoy a cooler breeze, since many of my favorite places are open-air.
• Why many expats become morning people – There’s a reason you’ll see so many retirees out early. Whether you’re a jogger, a walker, or someone who simply enjoys having a cup of coffee outdoors, the early morning hours are often the most comfortable and enjoyable part of the day.

One of the first things many expats learn is that noon is not the time to decide to mow the lawn. Let the goats eat!

The Philippines Doesn’t Have One Climate—It Has Many

One mistake many prospective retirees make is assuming that the weather is the same throughout the Philippines. It isn’t. The country’s geography creates dramatically different weather patterns depending on where you choose to live. Understanding these regional differences can help you decide not only where you want to retire, but also where you may be most comfortable.

• December through February – In my opinion, these are the best months for prospective retirees and expats to visit the Philippines. They are generally the coolest, driest, and most comfortable months of the year. For Americans escaping winter, it’s hard to complain about spending January in the tropics while friends back home are shoveling snow.
• April and May: The hottest months – These can be real scorchers. During April and May, I try to stay indoors, in the shade, or in the pool whenever possible, even during the morning hours. Not surprisingly, these are also the months when my electric bills are the highest because the air conditioning runs virtually 24 hours a day. If you’re considering retiring in the Philippines, budget for comfort during the hottest part of the year—you’ll appreciate every peso you spend on air conditioning.
• June through November – These are generally considered the wet months in the Philippines. After the intense heat of April and May, many residents actually welcome the arrival of overcast skies and tropical rain showers. While heavy rain can disrupt plans, it also brings much-needed relief from the heat and humidity.
• Typhoons – Typhoon season typically peaks between August and November. These storms come in from the Pacific with a force that few Americans have ever experienced. High winds, torrential rain, storm surges, and widespread flooding can occur. If you’ve only experienced thunderstorms in the United States, a major Philippine typhoon is in an entirely different category. Typhoons Are a Fact of Life, know what to do and where to go if you experience extended brownouts. I was living in Cebu in 2013 when Typhoon Yolanda swept in, battering the entire region, its powerful eye crossed the northern tip of the province and Bantayan Island, bringing catastrophic winds and devastation to towns like Bogo, Daanbantayan, and Medellin.
• Flooding – Many low-lying areas throughout the Philippines experience seasonal flooding. Streets can quickly become impassable, and roadside businesses are often among the hardest hit. Before choosing where to retire, it’s worth asking local residents about historical flooding patterns in the area.
• Mudslides – While less common than flooding, mudslides can occur in mountainous and rural areas, especially after prolonged periods of heavy rain. This is another reason why understanding the local geography of your chosen retirement destination is important.

One thing I’ve learned after years in the Philippines is that locals don’t panic when it starts raining. They simply look at the sky, grab an umbrella, and get on with their day. Expats eventually learn to do the same.

Brownouts Are Not Emergencies

One of the first things expats learn about living in the Philippines is the difference between a brownout and an emergency. Brownouts are simply part of life here. They can be inconvenient and uncomfortable, but they’re rarely a reason to panic.

• Regular outages – Here in Puerto Galera, we experience occasional brownouts ranging from brief interruptions of 30 minutes to the occasional marathon outage lasting six or seven hours. If it’s hot outside, losing air conditioning, fans, lights, and the ability to cook can quickly become uncomfortable. Fortunately, the longer outages are relatively rare and usually occur during periods of severe weather, particularly when typhoons affect Luzon and the national power grid. In all my years here, I’ve only had to pack up and spend the night at a hotel in Sabang once to get back to air-conditioned comfort. Many hotels and some restaurants have backup generators, which makes life much easier during extended outages.
• Backup batteries – It’s always a good idea to keep rechargeable fans, battery-powered lights, and several power banks on hand for phones and other devices. We also keep solar-powered outdoor lights that recharge during the day and provide enough light to move around safely at night.
• Starlink considerations – One thing many new expats don’t think about is that no electricity usually means no internet. Even if you have Starlink, the dish and router still require power. Unless you have a battery backup system or generator, you’ll be temporarily disconnected from the outside world.
• The best part of a brownout – After several hours of heat, darkness, and wondering when the power company will finally get around to fixing the problem, there’s a moment every expat in the Philippines learns to appreciate: the instant the lights come back on. Fans start spinning, air conditioners roar back to life, and everyone collectively breathes a sigh of relief.

Earthquakes & Volcanos

The Philippines Sits on the Ring of Fire

It may sound dramatic, but it’s true. It’s 7,000 islands sit directly on top of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a massive zone of tectonic activity responsible for most of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Living here means accepting that earthquakes and volcanoes aren’t rare historical events—they’re simply part of the landscape.

I experienced this reality firsthand in Cebu in October 2013.

Just two weeks before Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) devastated the central Philippines, a powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the nearby island of Bohol. The quake was felt throughout the Visayas, including Cebu, where I was living at the time.

I had experienced earthquakes before. While stationed at Camp Pendleton in California, I lived through several smaller quakes and learned to recognize the first warning signs: the strange buzzing and rattling sound of windowpanes vibrating in their frames. Years earlier, during the Northridge earthquake, I had been literally thrown out of bed by the shaking.

But this earthquake in Cebu was different.

It was powerful enough that instinct took over. I immediately dropped to my hands and knees, covered my head and neck, and held onto the bed frame while the room shook violently around me. Like many people who experience a major earthquake, I remember feeling that time itself had slowed down. The shaking seemed to last forever.

One lesson I learned is that your first instinct—to run outside—is often the wrong one. During an earthquake, stay where you are, move away from windows and heavy objects, and follow the simple rule taught around the world: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. If you’re driving, pull over to a safe, open area and remain inside your vehicle until the shaking stops.

And then there are the volcanoes.

The Philippines has 24 active volcanoes scattered throughout the archipelago. Most will never directly affect your daily life, but they serve as a constant reminder that this beautiful country sits atop one of the most geologically active regions on Earth.

Some of the country’s best-known active volcanoes include:

• Mayon Volcano (Albay, Luzon) – Famous worldwide for its near-perfect cone shape.
• Taal Volcano (Batangas, Luzon) – One of the world’s most unusual volcanoes, located within a lake.
• Kanlaon Volcano (Negros Island, Visayas) – The most active volcano in the central Philippines.
• Bulusan Volcano (Sorsogon, Luzon) – Known for frequent steam-driven eruptions.
• Mount Pinatubo (Central Luzon) – Site of the massive 1991 eruption that affected global climate.
• Hibok-Hibok (Camiguin Island) – One of the country’s most active island volcanoes.
• Mount Apo (Mindanao) – The Philippines’ highest mountain and home to geothermal activity.
• Musuan Peak (Bukidnon, Mindanao) – A smaller but still active volcanic feature.

The good news? Filipinos have been living with earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons, and tropical weather for centuries. Like many things in the Philippines, you learn to respect nature, prepare for the unexpected, and then get on with living your life.

If you would like to see what the Pinatubo volcano crater looks like today, please enjoy this short video I shot on the 25th anniversary of the famous eruption:

The Truth Nobody Tells You

Something like:

After a while, you stop worrying about typhoons and volcanos.

You learn to prepare.

You learn to keep cash.

You learn where the nearest hotel generator is.

You buy extra batteries.

You charge your power banks.

You listen to the barangay captain.

And then one day you realize something strange:

The people around you aren’t afraid of living with nature.

They simply respect it.

Continue Exploring

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One of the most important cultural questions many foreign men eventually face.

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