MANILA – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has declared the start of the dry season on Friday.
PAGASA chief Dr. Nathaniel Servando said the declaration of the Philippine “summer” was determined following the termination of the Amihan season.
“Today, we officially declare the start of the Philippine summer based on analysis of the latest forecast,” Servando said in a press conference on Friday morning.
We expect [that] the number of warm and dryer days will increase in the coming weeks and in the coming months,” he added.
Servando further said that the retreat of the high pressure area (HPA) over Siberia has resulted in the weakening of the associated northeasterly winds and the decreasing sea level pressure in the country.
The wind pattern has generally shifted from north easterlies to easterlies over most parts of the Philippines due to the advancing HPA over the Northwestern Pacific, he added.
“These signify the termination of the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan) and the start of the dry season and warmer conditions,” Servando said.
The state weather bureau further said there was a gradual increase in daily temperature over many parts of the country and the strengthening of the North Pacific High based on its recent observations.
But PAGASA added that there will still be some rainfall in the country mostly due to easterlies and localized thunderstorms as well as the La Niña phenomenon.
“The number of dry and warm days across the country will continue to increase, though isolated thunderstorms are also likely to occur, especially in the afternoon or evening hours,” Servando said.
“Meanwhile, the ongoing La Niña may still affect some parts of the country, which may significantly result in above normal rainfall conditions for April,” he added./PN
