Abnormal El Niño in Mindanao

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) is puzzled why Mindanao and Eastern Visayas are experiencing "beyond normal" rainfall, despite the prevailing El Niño phenomenon.

Pagasa’s Weather Bureau chief Nathaniel Cruz said the two regions are now having a "wet El Niño" and that they are now checking if the unusual phenomenon is linked with the much-feared global warming. "There is flooding there and even in Indonesia. It should not be the case. When there is an El Niño, it should be drier," he told The STAR.

Cruz explained that during an El Niño, the sea surface temperature usually gets cooler. However, in this case the temperature is getting warmer.

From December to January, the sea surface temperature is usually only 26 degrees Celsius. The temperature rose by half a degree Celsius during those months.

Pagasa forecaster Jun Kindipan claimed that in November and December 2006, warm wind from the North Western Pacific Ocean was also pushed by high pressure into the Philippines.