Two of the world’s most renowned storm chasers — Josh Morgerman and James Reynolds — are now in the Philippines to monitor Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-Wong), which is expected to bring life-threatening winds and storm surges as it makes landfall.
Morgerman, 55, an American storm chaser and TV personality known for documenting some of the world’s most powerful tropical cyclones, announced his arrival on Friday night, November 8, via Facebook.
“Just landed in Manila in the Philippines. Friday night here,” he wrote. “Gonna crash for a few hours, then head north into Aurora Province at the crack of dawn to hunt Typhoon Fung-Wong (a.k.a. Uwan). This one could be a real beast.”
The storm chaser, who leads the iCyclone team, is now in Baler, Aurora, where he continues to post real-time updates of massive waves and worsening weather conditions as Uwan nears the eastern coast of Luzon.
In one of his updates, Morgerman described the atmosphere in Baler as “deathly calm” but warned residents to prepare for a “strong typhoon impact” by Sunday night.
“Typhoon Fung-Wong (a.k.a. Uwan) is closing in on the Philippines. It’s been gradually strengthening today and it’s starting to look more symmetric—and dangerous,” he wrote. “I’m still on the waterfront in Baler. Gonna decide next steps in the morning. For now, I’m right where I want to be.”
He also compared the storm to Hurricane Melissa, the Category 5 cyclone he covered in Jamaica last October.
“Melissa was a truly incredible specimen — a record-smashing cyclone and a jaw-dropping display of raw destructive power that I’ve seldom — if ever — witnessed during my 35 years of hunting cyclones,” Morgerman explained. “Fung-Wong is a normal typhoon — dangerous and potentially destructive, but not breaking any records. At least not yet. Let’s hope it stays that way.”
Meanwhile, British storm chaser James Reynolds of Earth Uncut TV is also in Baler, Aurora, providing live updates from the ground.
“Expecting landfall somewhere near Baler tonight around 8 p.m.,” Reynolds wrote. “Given the large size of the storm, the exact landfall location and time isn’t hugely important since dangerous conditions will extend well ahead and far from the center.”
According to PAGASA’s 8 a.m. bulletin, Uwan has intensified into a super typhoon, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph, moving west-northwest at 25 kph.
Signal No. 5 — the highest storm warning — has been raised over Polillo Islands, parts of Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes, with lower signals hoisted over several provinces across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Due to the severe weather conditions expected, several malls nationwide have opened free overnight parking and shelter for affected residents.
This marks Morgerman’s seventh visit to the Philippines, having previously documented Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013 and Typhoon Pepito (Man-yi) in 2024.
