Public told: Save water now

CEBU, Philippines - With the El Niño set to begin by early November, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration wants the public to start saving water now.

PAGASA said there is still rain next month until early next year but, it will be below the normal level.

“Expected nga early November pero mas daghan ang init unya grabe bisan pa man expected nga naa pay typhoons nga musulod sa atoa,” said weather specialist Meo Aguirre.

Aguirre explained that on January, the rainfall is expected to reach 105.2mm, February is 69.6mm, and March is 58.6mm. This is the usual and normal amount of rainfall during these months.

But, during El Niño, amount of rainfall will be below the normal millimeter.

Aguirre, however, said that the climate is expected to return to normal by April next year.

“Sa panahon nga huwaw dapat mag-save ug tubig ilabi na sa sandayong bisan gamay nga uwan atong tigumon kay magamit na,” he said, adding that amount of ground water will lessen as it is dependent on the amount of rainfall.

PAGASA has been monitoring the oceanic and atmospheric conditions in the tropical Pacific closely for developments on the El Niño, which is characterized by unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.

The sea surface temperature anomaly over the tropical Pacific remained to be El Niño Southern Oscillation  neutral during the past several months.

El Niño could affect the normal rainfall pattern in the country ge-nerally resulting in reduced rainfall.

 Even with the entry of El Niño, PAGASA says the country would still experience tropical cyclones this year.

However, the El Niño will have the potential to affect the behavior of tropical cyclones to become erratic, affecting its tracks and intensity.

The tropical cyclone tracks are expected to shift northward and its intensity could become stronger.

PAGASA advised concerned agencies to take precautionary measures to mitigate the potential impacts of this phenomenon.  (FREEMAN)