Pagasa set to declare onset of summer

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos should brace for hotter days ahead as the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is poised to declare the termination of the northeast monsoon early this week, marking the official start of the dry or summer season.

The northeast monsoon or cold and dry air from China and Siberia is expected to prevail until today, according to PAGASA weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio. 

The termination of the northeast monsoon is one of the criteria for declaring the dry season in the western section of the Philippines, which includes Ilocos region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) or Southern Tagalog region, Metro Manila and Western Visayas.

 “We expect the amihan (northeast monsoon) to last until (Monday) and by Tuesday we’ll experience hotter weather,” Aurelio said in a television interview yesterday.

The northeast monsoon continued to blow through Luzon over the weekend, bringing slightly cooler temperatures. 

Apart from the termination of the northeasterly wind, PAGASA said other criteria include the presence of the easterlies or warm air from the Pacific Ocean and the ridge of high-pressure area, a system associated with good and sunny weather. 

“The dry season usually starts in the middle of March,” Aurelio said. 

Last year, however, PAGASA declared the onset of the dry season on April 5.

Aurelio also noted that while a weak La Niña is prevailing in the country, the rainfall expected during the dry months especially in the western Philippines, would not be “significant.”

 La Niña is associated with above normal rains.

 “Although there is a weak La Niña, the rainfall… would not be significant because in March, there is less or no rainfall at all, except for isolated thunderstorms,” Aurelio said.

The usual dry season in western Philippines runs from March until May.

PAGASA expects the temperature to hit 39.3 degrees Celsius in Northern Luzon in April.

In Metro Manila, the forecast maximum or hottest temperature next month is 37.8 degrees Celsius.

PAGASA said the warmest temperature on record is 42.2 degrees Celsius, which was registered on May 11, 1969 in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.