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ICYMI: Behold mighty #MELISSA in #Jamaica. High-end Category 5. Possibly the most intense #hurricane to make landfall in North America. And the fiercest of all the hurricanes I've witnessed. WATCH: youtu.be/siq-DdmBUIY
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Today (08 Nov) marks 13 years since one of the greatest catastrophes of the 21st century: Category 5 Super #Typhoon #HAIYAN in the #Philippines—known locally as YOLANDA.
This fast-moving, *extremely* intense storm came roaring ashore on the island of Leyte just after dawn with ne of the most intense cyclone landfalls ever observed. And although it was small, HAIYAN aimed perfectly, with its potent right eyewall nailing the large, low-lying city of Tacloban.
As the typhoon's center passed just south of the city, the winds shifted direction, forcing a tremendous volume of water into tiny San Pablo Bay—too much water. It overflowed into waterfront neighborhoods in a great, tsunami-like surge, engulfing almost the entire city in a matter of minutes. Unable to react quickly enough, many thousands of people perished. Yes, thousands.
I was there and I'll never forget it: first the wolf-like howl of the winds raking the city streets... then the crashing of windows breaking and doors tearing off... then the rushing of water invading the hotel from above and below... and then the screams. People in danger—trapped in their rooms as the surge rapidly swallowed up the first floor.
I remember having a sick feeling—that I was going to watch people die. Right in front of me. I needed to do something—anything. I threw my camera down and jumped into that black, horrible water. Working with my chase partners, Mark Thomas and James Reynolds (@EarthUncutTV), and a few other fellows, we somehow managed to pull everyone out of their flooded rooms—through the windows—and get them up to the second floor. I'm proud to say no one in our hotel died, although there were injuries—the most serious being Mark's. While performing rescues, he gashed his leg open—an injury so serious doctors had to fight to save his leg days later in Taiwan. (Someone was watching over me, because despite swimming in that same treacherous water wearing nothing but athletic shorts and a tank top, I had only a few scratches.) (Thanks to James for this shot of me rescuing a victim—it's from his incredible video of this event.)
The aftermath of the typhoon was so horrid it almost drove me to retire from stormchasing. Dead bodies everywhere. Injured children. Whole neighborhoods erased. A scale of misery that I couldn't comprehend. I remember shutting off my emotions—just going ice cold—because I knew if I let myself feel anything at all, I would not be able to function. A week later, when I was safely home and had the luxury to feel again, there were many tears.
HAIYAN was life-changing. It brought me face to face—in a raw, harsh way—with the ugly side of something I'd always seen as spectacular natural wonder. The urge to chase came back—but very slowly.
I've been back to Tacloban City several times since the catastrophe: a couple of months after, a year after, and ten years after. The city occupies a special place in my heart—like a home on the other side of the planet. Seeing Tacloban heal so remarkably—and reconnecting with fellow survivors of the storm—has been healing for me. ❤️
This fast-moving, *extremely* intense storm came roaring ashore on the island of Leyte just after dawn with ne of the most intense cyclone landfalls ever observed. And although it was small, HAIYAN aimed perfectly, with its potent right eyewall nailing the large, low-lying city of Tacloban.
As the typhoon's center passed just south of the city, the winds shifted direction, forcing a tremendous volume of water into tiny San Pablo Bay—too much water. It overflowed into waterfront neighborhoods in a great, tsunami-like surge, engulfing almost the entire city in a matter of minutes. Unable to react quickly enough, many thousands of people perished. Yes, thousands.
I was there and I'll never forget it: first the wolf-like howl of the winds raking the city streets... then the crashing of windows breaking and doors tearing off... then the rushing of water invading the hotel from above and below... and then the screams. People in danger—trapped in their rooms as the surge rapidly swallowed up the first floor.
I remember having a sick feeling—that I was going to watch people die. Right in front of me. I needed to do something—anything. I threw my camera down and jumped into that black, horrible water. Working with my chase partners, Mark Thomas and James Reynolds (@EarthUncutTV), and a few other fellows, we somehow managed to pull everyone out of their flooded rooms—through the windows—and get them up to the second floor. I'm proud to say no one in our hotel died, although there were injuries—the most serious being Mark's. While performing rescues, he gashed his leg open—an injury so serious doctors had to fight to save his leg days later in Taiwan. (Someone was watching over me, because despite swimming in that same treacherous water wearing nothing but athletic shorts and a tank top, I had only a few scratches.) (Thanks to James for this shot of me rescuing a victim—it's from his incredible video of this event.)
The aftermath of the typhoon was so horrid it almost drove me to retire from stormchasing. Dead bodies everywhere. Injured children. Whole neighborhoods erased. A scale of misery that I couldn't comprehend. I remember shutting off my emotions—just going ice cold—because I knew if I let myself feel anything at all, I would not be able to function. A week later, when I was safely home and had the luxury to feel again, there were many tears.
HAIYAN was life-changing. It brought me face to face—in a raw, harsh way—with the ugly side of something I'd always seen as spectacular natural wonder. The urge to chase came back—but very slowly.
I've been back to Tacloban City several times since the catastrophe: a couple of months after, a year after, and ten years after. The city occupies a special place in my heart—like a home on the other side of the planet. Seeing Tacloban heal so remarkably—and reconnecting with fellow survivors of the storm—has been healing for me. ❤️
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At exactly this hour 13 years ago, the incredible Super #Typhoon #HAIYAN was rapidly closing in on the #Philippines. One of the most extreme specimens ever observed, it was barreling W with estimated winds of 170 knots. I was in Tacloban City (star) waiting for it. I remember in e city was calm, quiet, serene. Three hours later, an atmospheric nuclear bomb killed thousands of people & left the city almost unrecognizable.
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Josh Morgerman retweeted
Josh Morgerman (@iCyclone) rode out Category 5 Dorian at Ground Zero. Dorian grounded over 1,000 U.S. flights and delayed 3,900 more. What would responders see with today’s technology?
hubs.li/Q04DpQ_r0
hubs.li/Q04DpQ_r0
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First time in my life I'm monitoring US election results from a breakfast buffet in Singapore. #random
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Josh Morgerman retweeted
Take a deep breath, give yourself a big hug, and remember, we're all in this together! 💛💚
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Hey from Singapore. Since a few folks have asked: you bet I voted. Of course. I voted early, at the County Courthouse in a Bay Saint Louis. #VOTE
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Good afternoon from #Singapore. All done with my presentation at #SIRC2026. Shared my 6 secrets for making good decisions under extreme pressure. Packed room, great audience. Part of #Everest Breakfast Series, in which they have adventurers & athletes share their unique angles on goal attainment.
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My feed is packed with garbage today. The "For you" tab is solid crap that is in no way for me. The algorithm is literally forcefeeding garbage.
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I'm staying in this grand hotel in #Singapore. It's an historic building that used to be the post office headquarters. A lot of chaserdude life is sleeping in wet clothes in the car on the side of the highway. And I accept that. But I'm cool with a few days of this.
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Hey hey from... #Singapore! Here to share with an international business audience my SECRETS to making the right decisions under *extreme* pressure. Yep, even businessfolks can benefit from a li'l chaserdude wisdom. 😎 This city is gorgeous, by the way. And crazy clean. #Everest
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View from my hotel in Crawford #Jamaica BEFORE & AFTER Cat 5 #Hurricane #MELISSA. This spot was in the storm's right-front quad (the strongest part) & most certainly saw winds gusting well over 200 mph. These fierce winds scrubbed landscape bare, flattened or unroofed every house, &e buildings—like the one across the street. Just the sound of these winds was harsh—an ear-splitting scream.
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My analysis of Cat 5 #Hurricane #MELISSA's landfall In #Jamaica, based primarily on Cuban radar imagery & my on-the-ground obs. Communities inside the pink circle—especially SE of the center—saw incredible wind speeds.
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#Hurricane #MELISSA smashed #Jamaica 1 year ago today. It's tied for 1st place as strongest recorded hurricane landfall in North America. My video brings you through the eye & the jaw-dropping aftermath. And it shows the resilience of the Jamaican people.❤️youtu.be/siq-DdmBUIY?si…
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Exactly 1 year ago, I entered core of Cat 5 #MELISSA in #Jamaica. Tied as strongest #hurricane impact in N America. Winds: FEROCIOUS. Gusts well over 200 mph. Enough to reduce concrete to rubble. All I remember: White void of energy swallowing the building. Ear-splitting scream.
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Josh Morgerman retweeted
🌀 67 years ago, on October 27, 1959, one of the deadliest hurricanes in Mexico’s Pacific history struck Colima.
Our reanalysis (Morgerman, Hagen, Gonzalez & myself) revised its landfall intensity from Cat 5 to Cat 4 and refined the eye’s track over La Boquita, Manzanillo (ZLO)
Our reanalysis (Morgerman, Hagen, Gonzalez & myself) revised its landfall intensity from Cat 5 to Cat 4 and refined the eye’s track over La Boquita, Manzanillo (ZLO)
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