La Niña spotted in Pacific, wetter conditions seen in eastern Philippines

La Niña conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific Ocean, agencies of the US and Australia have confirmed.

According to an update prepared by the Climate Prediction Center of the US NOAA, "equatorial sea surface temperatures are below average across the east-central and eastern Pacific Ocean."

"The tropical atmospheric circulation is consistent with La Niña," the NOAA update read.

It added that the conditions were likely to persist over winter in the northern hemisphere.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said a La Niña event had formed in the Pacific Ocean and would persist until at least January 2021.

In its climate driver update, the bureau said all key indicators of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation had reached or exceeded La Niña thresholds.

“Central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures exceed La Niña thresholds (0.8 °C below average) and atmospheric indicators, including the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), trade winds and cloud, are also at La Niña levels.,” it said.

According to GMA’s resident meteorologist Nathaniel Cruz, the Philippines may experience wetter than normal conditions, especially in the eastern section such as Cagayan Valley, Bicol, Eastern Visayas and Eastern Mindanao during the northeast monsoon.

Earlier, the La Niña alert issued by PAGASA this month suggested that there was a 70 percent chance for the Philippines to experience the effects of La Niña in the coming months.

This means that the country may experience more rain than normal, especially over the eastern sections.

“Ito po ay puwedeng mag-dulot ng mas mataas kaysa normal na pag-ulan lalong lalo na po dito sa ating eastern section ng Pilipinas. Ito po sa parte ng Cagayan siguro, hanggang dito po sa parte ng Bicol,” hydrologist Oyie Pagulayan said in a report by Tina Panganiban-Perez’s “24 Oras.”

“Ine-expect natin na mas may impact ito sa water shed ng Angat pagka dating po nitong last quarter at maaring sa first quarter of... the following year,” she added.

The La Niña season may also cause landslides and flash floods, especially in vulnerable areas. -NB, GMA News