PAGASA: Rainy season is here

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Tuesday announced the onset of the rainy season.

“As you can see, cloud clusters are now covering most areas in the Philippines and more are coming. This is a classical manifestation of the onset of the rainy season,” a PAGASA official said.

Esperanza Cayanan of the bureau's Weather Division said they made the declaration early after the country experienced rain in the past few days.  She said they used to wait for a three to five consecutive days of rain wherein the eight stations will have 25 millimeter amount of rain and a day of no less than a millimeter amount of rain before they can announce the onset of the rainy season.

“Kung kukwentahin natin, not totally 100 percent nakuha 'yung criteria (for rainy season announcement) na kailangan.  In-assess na po natin for the next three to five days weather, kaya inagahan na po namin ‘yung pag-announce,” Cayanan said.

“Nakikita na po kasi natin ‘yung impact (of the rain),” she added.

Cayanan cited that some areas in Zambales and Bataan were under the yellow rainfall warning last night until early morning while some areas in Metro Manila experienced flooding.

PAGASA said the rain caused by southwest monsoon is in progress and warned that as El Niño ends, La Niña will come in.

“Nakakaramdam man tayo ng maraming pag-ulan pero ito'y below normal pa rin,” PAGASA Assistant Weather Services chief Anthony Lucero said.

Cayanan also mentioned there are about eight to 17 number of tropical cyclones expected based on its six-month forecast. She said most of the typhoons are expected to happen in July and peak in August.

 “Tungkol po sa bagyo, nagtatapos na po ang ating El Niño and papasok na ang La Niña. Our forecast up to October is 8 to 17 ‘yung tinatayang number of cyclones,” Cayanan said.

Cayanan explained that they have not yet done the forecast for November onwards. She said, however, that strong typhoons usually arrive during the last quarter of the year.

PAGASA advised the public of rainy days ahead and to be ready for the La Niña phenomenon. The weather bureau said it will coordinate with Office of Civil Defense and other government agencies for its contingency plans.