Weather in Sina Una

Habagat: Winter Winds

It is not a precise date and time which marks the passing of a year on the islands, but the first deafening crack of thunder which rumbles out of the great ocean storms carried by the tumultuous Habagat. The winter wind carries warm air south west across the islands which fuels fierce thunderstorms, at times even fomenting into devastating typhoons. As these storms flood the low-laying areas of the islands, rice farmers rejoice as their fields fill. In other areas, rivers rise and currents quicken, increasing danger but also in some cases opening access to larger craft. Under Habagat, large trading fleets traditionally will set out from Northern Islands such as Puthawanan, carrying ships heavy with iron south to the forges in Talunan. For others, the warm winds mean humidity, as the already thick swamp air of Kandaya now instantly draws sweat from those navigating the mangrove roots.

Typhoon

Also known to some as Hurricanes or Cyclones, a Typhoon occurs when swirling winds entering a low pressure zone, speeding up as they enter and beginning to swirl. The result can be destructive as winds reach a minimum of 64 knots. The native people of the Islands believe that these occurrences are the emotional outbursts of spirits of nature, with a typhoon resulting from the combined efforts of the great spirits of the ocean, storms, lightning and thunder. Sailors and Settlement Leaders alike will make offerings to these spirits to petition for mercy as the signs of a typhoon begin to manifest. In Kotabalon, residents have adapted to the frequent hammering of winds on the southern shore by carving their dwellings into the ground amidst an intricate guttering system which carries would be floodwaters back out to the sea cliffs.

Amihan: Summer Winds

In stark contrast to its winter counterpart, Amihan’s cold summer wind cleanses the sky of storms and moisture. As it blows steadily north east across the islands, it has an almost drying effect which tightens the earth and signals to plant life that it is time to begin a cycle of regeneration. The population of the islands turns to communal events indoors as the temperature at night drops significantly—in some high altitude areas even allowing light snowfall at times. Opposite to Habagat, Amihan carries sailing boats North, often carrying the newest model trading vessels from Talunan’s master pandays back towards Kaylahon where eager adventurers await the finished master weapons of the volcano forge.

Freezing Rain

Particularly a risk for unprepared sailors, even a light rain during Amihan can turn deadly as temperatures plummet without the presence of the sun. Without proper water resistant equipment, many a poor pirate has found themselves sobered (or worse) by exposure to bone chilling winds as rain soaked through their clothes. The risks on land are less dire as the availability of shelter and fire mitigate the cold.

Natural Disasters

Volcanic Eruption

The Islands of Sina Una sit at the intersection of three tectonic plates. The Adwalatan Traverse Plate forms a fault line in the South—moving parallel but opposite to the Sinan plate on which most of the islands rest. Along this plate boundary the two most active volcanoes in the Islands sit.

Mayon, the more active of the two, sits west along this plane, the constant grinding of plates opening new channels to burgeoning lava flow. It is the responsibility of the Babayan at Iraga to moderate the flow of this lava by means of appeasing the volcano’s spirit to continue the use of the mighty Volcano Forge.

At Nulkab, the eruptions are limited, as an agreement between the spirit of this volcano and Babaylon Kaylahon has lead to a tranquility with the nearby city. Sometimes the offerings are not enough to stifle the eruption—these situations may lead to destruction of environment or structure. It is another cycle of nature—in the wake of the damage is new land, new resources, and new life as the volcanic ash revitalized the soil it falls on.

Earthquake

Another byproduct of tectonic activity on the Islands is a high amount of earthquakes. While earthquakes are frequent along the Adwalatan Fault, the more active epicenter of activity is in Puthanawan, where a subduction zone has the Arimaongan plate lifting the eastern edge of the Sinan Plate to form Arimaonga’s ridge. Where these plates meet, the earth shakes. While more minor quakes can only be felt locally, higher intensity events will be felt throughout the islands.

Structural integrity is of concern, primarily on Puthanawan and Kotabalon where structures are more likely to be formed out of stone. However, the use of light and strong materials, particularly the wood of the Mangrove trees of Kandaya, has been found to be particularly effective in resisting the effects of earthquakes. In Puthanawan, earthquakes often collapse old mining tunnels, while also revealing new ones.

Tsunami

It starts small in the distance. A hill of water, almost unperceivable at first as the sky shrinks only a little bit on the horizon. But then it grows, taller and taller as it approaches the shore. Then it is obvious--horns are blown in warning of the impending wall of water rushing to cover the land. The Tsunami is often a result of an earthquake, although it is believed they can happen also as a result of the anger of the great spirit Haik as he rages against Maylupa, the spirit of the earth. The deadly wave wreaks a terrible destruction in its path as it wipes clean through the lower areas of the island it hits, leaving floods of salt water and often bodies of those unable to escape in its wake.

Extreme Monsoon

 When a monsoon reaches a certain degree of intensity, its deadly nature becomes exponentially more obvious. Without specifically adapted structures, buildings, trees, and people can be ripped into the air and flung at literally breakneck speeds. These types of storms tend to occur on the tail end of Habagat as the winds begin to shift and compete with the rise of Amihan.