On November 8, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) began tracking a new tropical depression 132
nautical miles (245 km; 150 mi) north-northwest of Palau.[2][3] At 12:00 UTC on the same day, the
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) declared the
system as a tropical depression inside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), and named it as
Ulysses.[4][5] The next day at 7:15 UTC, the system strengthened into a tropical storm, prompting JMA
to identify the system as Vamco,[6] with the Joint Typhoon Warning Center later issuing their first
warning on the system as a tropical depression. As the system tracked closer to southern Luzon, both
the PAGASA and the JMA upgraded Vamco into a severe tropical storm.[7] Vamco was then upgraded to
typhoon status by the JMA on November 11, followed by the JTWC and the PAGASA shortly after.[8][9]
At 22:30 PHT (14:30 UTC) on November 11, Vamco made its first landfall on the island town of
Patnanungan, Quezon.[10] Then, surrounded by favorable conditions for an intensification, Vamco
continued to gain strength and reached its initial peak of intensity, with 10-min sustained winds at 130
km/h (81 mph), 1-minute sustained winds of 185 km/h (115 mph) and pressure of 970 mbar, supporting
Vamco as a Category 3-equivalent typhoon.[11] At 23:20 PHT (15:20 UTC) and at 1:40 PHT of the
following day (17:40 UTC), Vamco made its next two Quezon landfalls over Burdeos (in Polillo Island)
and General Nakar (in the Luzon landmass), respectively.[12] Later, Vamco dropped below typhoon
intensity inland. At 00:00 UTC, Vamco emerged over the South China Sea.[13] The system left the PAR at
01:30 UTC as the PAGASA redeclared the system as a typhoon.[14] Vamco gradually intensified in the
South China Sea, before rapidly intensifying into its peak as a Category 4-equivalent typhoon on
November 13.[15] The typhoon then weakened before making its last landfall in Vietnam as a Category
1-equivalent typhoon on November 15.[16] Shortly after, the typhoon weakened further into a tropical
storm until it dissipated north of Laos.
Preparations
Philippines
Typhoon Vamco approaching the Philippines on November 11.
As Vamco initially formed inside of the Philippine Area of Responsibility, the PAGASA immediately began
issuing severe weather bulletins in preparation for the typhoon.[17] The Philippines had recently been
hit with three other tropical cyclones — Typhoon Molave (Quinta), Typhoon Goni (Rolly), and Tropical
Storm Etau (Tonyo) — making this the fourth tropical cyclone to approach Luzon in the past month.
After Goni damaged the PAGASA's weather monitoring station in Catanduanes, one of the only three
stations in the country, typhoon tracking was done manually.[18] The PAGASA first raised tropical
cyclone wind signals as early as November 9.[19] By 23:00 UTC on November 10, the PAGASA had raised
a Signal #2 wind signal for 17 provinces, parts of 6 provinces, 2 islands, and the national capital region,
Metro Manila.[20] The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), also began
sending out emergency alerts to mobile phone users about possible storm surges. The NDRRMC later
used this same system to alert citizens in areas under Signal #3.[21]
Residents in the Pollilo Islands and in Central Luzon were forced to evacuate a day before the storm's
landfall.[22][23] 14,000 residents were also to be evacuated in Camarines Norte.[24] Bicol Region, one
of the regions worst hit by Goni last month, evacuated 12,812 individuals ahead of the incoming storm.
[25] Over 2,071 passengers were stranded in ports in multiple regions of Luzon as sea conditions
worsened.[26] Philippine Airlines suspended flights due to the inclement weather brought by Vamco.
[27] The Office of the President of the Philippines suspended work in government offices and online
classes in public schools in 7 regions, including the National Capital Region.[28] 12 hours before the
typhoon's landfall, the PAGASA raised Signal #3 warnings for areas to be hit by the typhoon on landfall
including Metro Manila and the entirety of Central Luzon.[9] The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology then issued lahar warnings for the Mayon Volcano, the Taal Volcano, and Mount Pinatubo
hours prior to the typhoon's landfall.[29] Prior to the typhoon's landfall, at least 231,312 individuals
were evacuated by local government units.[1]
