Amihan to bring cold weather until February — PAGASA

The Northeast Monsoon or Amihan will bring cold weather to parts of the country up to February, state weather bureau PAGASA said Wednesday.

According to Mariz Umali’s report on “24 Oras,” the temperature in La Trinidad, Benguet reached 10 °C on Wednesday morning, while Baguio recorded 13.5 °C.

Meanwhile, Marawi City and Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya both recorded 17.3°C.

Malaybalay in Bukidnon also recorded 17.5°C, while Metro Manila reached 22.5 °C.

PAGASA weather forecaster Ariel Rojas said the cold weather will prevail until next year.

“Inaasahan natin na mas malamig ang temperatura sa second half ng December at mas malamig pa pagdating ng January at February, which are the peak months of Amihan sa Pilipinas,” Rojas said.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the cold weather will not have a significant impact on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission.

“’Yong empirical data or observational data, mukhang mas madaling kumalat ‘yong virus sa mga sobrang matitinding lamig na panahon gaya ng America, Europa, minsan nagze-zero degrees ‘yan,” he said.

“Ang transmission rate tila tumataas pero sa Pilipinas ‘di naman tayo umaabot ng ganoong kalamig. Ganunpaman, ang number one consideration dito ay ang pag-iingat,” he added.

Duque urged the public to continue to follow minimum health standards to prevent the spread of the virus.

The country has so far recorded a total of 422,915 cases of COVID-19, including 386,955 recoveries and 8.215 deaths. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News