Philippines transitioning to dry season, Amihan almost over

The Philippines is moving closer to the dry season as the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan is almost over, state meteorologists said on Wednesday.

PAGASA weather specialist Ariel Rojas explained that the weather bureau has yet to officially declare dry season because the Amihan will still affect parts of northern Luzon and Central Luzon from Monday to Tuesday or Wednesday. Luzon in the next few days.

“Pero tayo po ay pa-transition na at papasok sa tag-init, at halos patapos na ang panahon ng Amihan [But we are almost shifting to dry season and Amihan will soon end],” Rojas said in a livestreamed PAGASA weather forecast at 4 p.m.

He said that most parts of the country, particularly southern Luzon to Mindanao, will experience hot weather.

Meanwhile, Rojas said, there is no weather disturbance expected to enter the country in the next three to five days.

In Oscar Oida's report on 24 Oras, Rojas said rains are still expected due to La Niña even as the country is moving towards the dry season. PAGASA previously said La Nina will bring rains to the country from October 2020 until March 2021. 

"Normal na may pag-ulan kasi kapag tag-init ay mas mataas ang evaporation rate. Ang Pilipinas ay napapalibutan ng tubig so marami tayong water source at itong evaporation ng water vapors will lead to cloud formation at iyan ang posibleng magdulot ng thunderstorms sa hapon at gabi," said Rojas.

(Rains would normally happen because hot weather causes higher evaporation rate and the Philippines has many water sources. Evaporation of water vapors will form clouds which will possibly cause thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening.)

In the report, "hotspots" for the dry season were identified in Tuguegarao, Cabanatuan, Zamboanga, Cotabato and Catbalogan.

Supply and water level of water dams are still enough as the Philippines expect a shift into dry season, according to PAGASA hydrologist Sheila Schneider.

Earlier, the nation’s weather bureau announced that Metro Manila and the rest of the Philippines will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rains or thunderstorms due to easterlies. — Consuelo Marquez/BM, GMA News