More rains seen as wet season nears

MANILA, Philippines -  Many parts of the Philippines will experience more rains and thunderstorms especially later in the day as the wet season draws closer, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) expects the start of the rainy season later this month or early June. Last year, the rainy season was officially declared on May 24.

PAGASA’s criteria in declaring the onset of the rainy season include the prevalence of the southwest monsoon, and rainfall of 25 millimeters in at least five out of eight weather monitoring stations for five consecutive days.

The agency, however, clarified that the onset of the rainy season applies only for areas under the Type 1 climate, which include the National Capital Region and the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, Zambales, Tarlac, Cavite and Batangas, and the islands of Palawan and Mindoro.

Type 1 climate has two pronounced seasons – dry and wet. The dry season is from November to April and the rest of the year is the wet season.

The climate of the Philippines has been classified into four distinct types by PAGASA based on the distribution of rainfall.

Meanwhile, the agency yesterday continued to monitor a low-pressure area off Batanes.

PAGASA weather forecaster Gener Quitlong said the weather system was enhancing the frontal system, which was bringing rains over the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Central Luzon.

Quitlong said the low-pressure area was not expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone within the next 24 hours.

As of 4 a.m. yesterday, it was spotted at 365 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes.

“It is likely to develop into a cyclone Monday evening or Tuesday morning as it moves out of the Philippine area of responsibility,” he said.

Quitlong said warm and humid weather would persist in most parts of the country, including Metro Manila, particularly in the morning and midday.

The temperature in Metro Manila will range from 25 to 35 degrees Celsius in the next three days.