Habagat officially done; Amihan waiting in the wings

PAGASA announced on its official Facebook page Friday morning end of the Habagat southwest monsoon, signaling the end of rainy days and auguring cold mornings to come.

 

The Habagat is associated with the country's rainy season—which was unusually dry this year, given the ongoing El Niño—as the monsoon winds bring in rainclouds and thunderstorms across the country.

 

"Recent climate analysis showed that a significant weakening of the Southwest Monsoon wind has been observed over the last few days. Moreover, the strengthening of the high pressure systems over the Asian continent has led to the gradual changing of the season," PAGASA said.

 

"With these developments, the Southwest Monsoon or known locally as 'Habagat' is now officially over," it added with finality.

 

In Habagat's place will rise the cold Amihan northeast winds, associated with the chilly Christmas season. However, PAGASA has held off from making an official announcement at this time.



"The climate of the Philippines is on (sic) the process of transition and will be expecting the gradual beginning of the northeast monsoon season in the coming days with a peculiar (sic) shift in the direction of the winds to the northeast," PAGASA said.