PAGASA declares start of dry season

State weather bureau PAGASA on Wednesday officially declared the start of the dry season with the termination of the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan over most parts of the country.

“The shift of wind direction from northeasterly to easterly due to the establishment of the High Pressure Area (HPA) over the Northwestern Pacific signifies the termination of the Northeast Monsoon over most parts of the country and the start of the dry season,” PAGASA said in a statement.

PAGASA, however, noted that extreme Northern Luzon may still experience occasional northeasterly winds.

“With this development, the day-to-day weather across the country will gradually become warmer, though isolated thunderstorms are also likely to occur,” PAGASA added.

Due to this, PAGASA advised the public to take precautionary measures to ease heat stress and improve the daily use of water for personal and domestic consumption.

READ: DOH shares tips to prevent heat-related illnesses

PAGASA said it will continue to closely monitor the weather and climatic conditions as well as their potential impacts.

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The state bureau also called on the public and other concerned agencies to regularly check for updates

52? heat index?

The heat index in some parts of the country has alreadu been recorded between 46 and 47 degrees Celsius, particularly in Tarlac and Pangasinan, according to PAGASA.

The local weather bureau warned that temperatures may rise further, especially toward the end of April and May.

"Hopefully hindi naman po mag-reach hanggang 52," said Ana Liza Solis, Chief of PAGASA's Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section in an interview on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

(Hopefully, it won't reach 52 degrees.)

“But there is still a possibility po dahil usually po yung pinakamainit nating temperatura at matataas na heat index ay usually po yung last portion ng April at Mayo,” she added.

(But thee is still a possibility since the highest temperatures and heat indices are usually recorded in the latter part of April and May.)

Last year, the highest heat index recorded was 52 degrees Celsius, coinciding with a strong El Niño episode. While the effects of La Niña are weakening this year, the public is still advised to take precautions against extreme heat.

Solis emphasized that coastal and valley areas are particularly prone to extreme heat, including Dagupan, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales, Tuguegarao, Cagayan, and Aparri.

“So sa ngayon, ang tinitingnan natin are usually itong mga areas na malapit dun sa tinatawag nating karagatan or yung coastal areas. So mas warm and humid yun, ibig sabihin yan po sa may parte ng Dagupan, Pangasinan, sa may Tarlac, Zambales, yan po mga parting yan."

(Currently, we are monitoring areas close to bodies of water or coastal areas. These areas experience higher humidity in Dagupan area in Pangasinan, in Tarlac, Zambales, in those areas.) —Joviland Rita with reports from Sherylin Untalan/ VAL, GMA Integrated News