Temperature drop due to Typhoon Usagi

Persistent and heavy rains have been hitting Cambodia and the capital, Phnom Penh, since Sunday evening. Typhoon Usagi, currently impacting Vietnam, is beginning to show its effects in the central and southern parts of the Kingdom. Temperatures have dropped significantly, bringing an unexpected coolness at the onset of the dry season. The sensation is unusual and surprising. In recent days, it's been easy to forget to bring a sweater—something increasingly necessary to stay comfortable outdoors in Cambodia, and especially in Phnom Penh. The wind is cool, and ambient temperatures have slipped from a typical 23°C down to 18°C—at a time of year when 30°C is normally reached without hesitation.

As of yesterday, Typhoon Usagi was crossing the Ho Chi Minh City area and is now heading north, expected to dissipate over the South China Sea. In the meantime, several Cambodian provinces, including Phnom Penh, Kratié, Stung Treng, and Ratanakiri, are experiencing collateral climate effects. While not dangerous if precautions are taken, the weather changes bring rain, chilly winds, and a noticeable drop in temperature, prompting residents to dress more warmly than usual. Temperatures across the Kingdom are expected to return to normal by the end of the weekend, with sunny skies forecast.

The term “Typhoon”

Usagi is the latest in a list of 35 typhoons recorded so far this year. The previous one, Man-Yi, was moving yesterday toward the southwestern part of the Philippine Sea. All such storms are classified as “typhoons” in the Northwest Pacific region. In the North Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, they are called “hurricanes,” while in the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific, the term “cyclone” is used. Despite the different names, these terms all refer to the same type of meteorological phenomenon: a powerful tropical storm.

(In yellow, the areas affected by Typhoon Usagi as of last Sunday.)