# Tropical Storm Pabuk (2024)

Tropical Storm Pabuk, known in the Philippines as Tropical Depression Romina, was a weak tropical cyclone that impacted the western portion of the Philippines, specifically Palawan and Oriental Mindoro in late December 2024. The twenty-sixth named storm of the annual typhoon season, Pabuk formed on December 20 as a low-pressure area, later upgraded into a tropical depression. On December 22, PAGASA named the storm Romina due to its imminent threat to the Kalayaan Islands, even though it was still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR). This marked the first time since 1963 that PAGASA named a tropical cyclone outside the PAR. The next day, PAGASA issued their final advisory to Romina as it moved away from the Philippines. A few hours later, it was upgraded to a tropical storm by the Japan Meteorological Agency and named Pabuk.

## Meteorological history

The origins of Tropical Storm Pabuk can be traced back to December 20, when the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported a low-pressure area located 460 km (290 mi) west-southwest of Brunei, which was later upgraded to a tropical depression. At 06:00 UTC the following day, the United States Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a tropical cyclone formation alert, noting that formative banding was organizing around the circulation and deep convection was building over the center. However, due to its imminent threat to the Kalayaan Islands, PAGASA named the depression Romina, even though it was still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), at 11:00 PHT (03:00 UTC) on December 22, and began issuing advisories on it. This marked the first time since 1963 that PAGASA named a tropical cyclone outside the PAR.
Later that same day, the JTWC assigned the system the designation 28W, noting a strong northeast surge was occurring with winds shifting from north-northeasterly to northerly, while Invest 98W, which had formed near the storm, rapidly weakened and was absorbed into the storm's southeastern periphery. On 21:00 UTC, Pabuk showed deep convection flaring on the northwestern periphery of a low-level circulation that was mostly exposed. On December 23, PAGASA issued its final advisory on Romina as it moved away from the Kalayaan Islands and lifted the wind signals. On 03:00 UTC, the JTWC classified the storm intensity as high confidence, with a ridge steering the system west northwestward. A cold surge increased development. On 06:00 UTC, the JMA upgraded the storm to a tropical storm and named it Pabuk, following the observation of a favorable environment as it moved westward along the southern periphery of a mid-level subtropical high. On 09:00 UTC, the JTWC described the storm with a completely exposed low-level circulation center. Dry air also increased intensity. On December 24, the JTWC noted that the storm had a marginally favorable environment which could quickly change. On 06:00 UTC on December 25, Pabuk decreased into a tropical depression status because of an unfavorable environment, prompting the JMA to issue their final prognostic reasoning.

## Preparations and impact

On December 22, 2024, the Kalayaan Islands were issued Signal No. 1, where a wind speed of 39 km/h (24 mph) to 61 km/h (38 mph) is expected. That same day, the municipality of Balabac, Palawan was added to Signal No. 1. A few hours later, Balabac was removed. On December 23, 2024, all signals were removed as Pabuk moved away from the Philippines. Online, rumors were made that Pabuk would make landfall over Thailand on December 20, 2024, though the national agency said that the rumors were false. On December 23, 2024, heavy rain was recorded in the South Central Coast and Central Highlands of Vietnam. On December 24, 2024, an advisory was made by the Malaysian Meteorological Department for Pabuk, noting that rough seas are expected within the South China Sea.
Pabuk interacted with a shear line and brought heavy rains to southern Philippines. Heavy rains affected 36,900 people, mostly in Palawan and Oriental Mindoro. A total of 12,200 families were affected. 799 displaced people were recorded, and eight evacuation centers were used. Pabuk also caused Baco, Oriental Mindoro to issue a state of calamity due to intense flooding. A total of 4,300 families or 20,000 people have been displaced in Baco. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), four people were killed, all in Palawan. 20 houses were damaged, in which 2 of them were destroyed. Total damage in the Philippines reached ₱581 million (US$9.91 million). The Department of Social Welfare and Development released ₱3.56 million (US$61,000) of humanitarian assistance to those who were affected by the storm.