Cyclones likely to hit Philippines in May — PAGASA

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the forecast for hotter temperatures, one or two tropical cyclones may hit the country this month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

Ana Liza Solis, officer in charge of PAGASA’s climate monitoring and prediction section, said one or two cyclones normally visit the country in May based on the bureau’s data from 1948 to 2016.

Solis said some of the cyclones that entered the Philippine area of responsibility in May either made landfall over Luzon or “recurved.”

She said while hotter temperatures are forecast to occur this month, there will also be an increase in the number of rainy days.

“There will be more wet days this May, especially over the western section of Luzon,” Solis said in a recent climate forum.

She said generally near to above normal rainfall is expected in most parts of the country this month.

The La Niña condition over the Pacific Ocean was already “decaying.”

“We may issue the last La Niña advisory this May,” she said.

La Niña is associated with above normal rainfall.