La Trinidad, Benguet's 9.9°C temperature is coldest so far this Amihan season

The municipality of La Trinidad in Benguet felt the coldest temperature so far in the country this Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) season at 9.9 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning.

This was revealed by GMA resident meteoreologist Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz on Dobol B sa News TV on Saturday.

Cruz said however that there may be colder temperatures in the coming months since the Amihan season will last until March.

"Hindi pa 'yan ang pinakamalamig," Cruz said.

The Amihan season started on the last week of October, he said.

Cruz said with the colder temperature comes frost which may affect the crops of farmers in the Cordillera areas.

"'Yan ang hamog na nasa mga dahon, nagyeyelo," he said.

The temperature in La Trinidad, Benguet reached 10°C on Wednesday morning, while Baguio recorded 13.5°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. —KG, GMA News