PAGASA: 'Rainy season ends'

MANILA, Philippines — The rainy season in the country has ended with the termination of the southwest monsoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.

Filipinos can expect warmer days and less rainfall in the coming months, according to PAGASA.

“Recent analyses showed a significant weakening of the southwest monsoon winds over the last few days. With this development, the monsoon season known locally as habagat has ended,” PAGASA administrator Vicente Malano said in a statement.

Malano said the strengthening of the high pressure system over the Asian continent suggests gradual transition of the wind system from southwest – warm and humid air – to northeast or cold and dry air from China and Siberia.

He said the public could expect the northeast monsoon to start blowing into the country in the coming days. 

The northeast monsoon brings cold weather in the Philippines from October to February.

Meanwhile, Typhoon Queenie (international name Kong-Rey) has left the Philippine area of responsibility.

As of 3 a.m. yesterday, Queenie was spotted at 825 kilometers north northeast of Basco, Batanes with maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 145 kph. It was moving north northwest at 25 kph.

PAGASA said the whole country can expect fair weather apart from isolated rains due to thunderstorms. 

Queenie was the 17th cyclone to visit the Philippines this year and the first weather disturbance this month.

It did not make landfall but its trough or outer spiral dumped rains over the eastern section of the country.

Two to three cyclones normally enter the country in October.  – Rhodina Villanueva