PAGASA declares start of warm, dry season

Filipinos should brace for warmer temperatures in the next few months as PAGASA announced Tuesday the end of the northeast monsoon or amihan season and the start of the warm and dry season in the country.

In a statement, the state weather bureau said that the warm and dry season is expected to last until May.

Meanwhile, rainfall across the country will be influenced mostly by easterlies and localized thunderstorms.

PAGASA explained that recent analyses show a retreat of the high pressure area over Siberia which led to the weakening of northeasterly winds and an increase in the air temperature over most parts of the country.

The strengthening of the North Pacific High has also resulted in a gradual shift in the wind pattern from northeasterly to easterly, it added.

In a public briefing, PAGASA weather specialist Chris Perez said the country may experience normal weather conditions—meaning there’s neither El Niño nor La Niña—from March to June.

El Niño may then start July onwards, and the country may experience a below normal amount of rainfall by August or September, he said.

“Sa ngayon, ang projection natin in terms of rainfall bago mag El Niño ay halos near normal to above normal sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng ating bansa. Pero, pag dumating na ang El Niño, magkakaroon tayo ng bagong projections, then likely, posibleng makaranas talaga ng mas mababang amount ng rainfall ang ilang bahagi ng bansa,” he said.

(Right now, we’re projecting an almost near normal to above normal rainfall in different parts of our country before El Niño starts. But, when El Niño arrives, it is likely that some parts of the country will experience a lower amount of rainfall.)

The El Niño phenomenon is characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperature in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and below normal rainfall.

With this, Perez said it is possible that the country may see lower level of water in reservoirs, particularly in Angat Dam, in the coming months.

The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Monday warned of a possible water supply shortage in the country ahead of the expected El Niño phenomenon.

PAGASA advised the public to take precautionary measures to minimize heat stress and optimize the daily use of water for personal and domestic consumption.—AOL, GMA Integrated News