Pagasa: No tropical cyclone, but bring umbrellas

MANILA, Philippines — No tropical cyclone is expected to affect the country during the first week of classes in public schools nationwide, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

Around 27.8 million students are expected to return to school this academic year, of which 25 million are enrolled in public schools.

Ana Clauren, weather specialist at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), however, advised students to bring their umbrellas as rains from thunderstorms would likely prevail especially in the afternoon or evening.

The intertropical convergence zone would bring intermittent rains over Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, and Palawan until today. The ITCZ is a breeding ground for potential cyclones or low pressure areas.

“In Luzon, including Metro Manila, we can expect warm and humid weather in the morning and possible rains in the afternoon or evening due to localized thunderstorms,” Clauren said.

No tropical cyclone entered the Philippine area of responsibility last month. One or two cyclones usually visit the country in May.

PAGASA weather forecasters said the entry of a low pressure area or a tropical cyclone may enhance the southwest monsoon, which is the dominant weather system during the rainy season.

Clauren said the southwesterly wind remains weak.

PAGASA deputy administrator Flaviana Hilario last week said the wet season is likely to begin in the first half of June.

She said near normal rainfall conditions would prevail in many parts of the country this month, except for Apayao, most of Ilocos region, Cagayan, Tarlac and Zambales, which would experience below normal rainfall.

The declaration of the rainy season applies for areas under Type 1 Climate. These are areas located along the western side of the country and have distinct dry and wet seasons.

Areas under the Type 1 Climate include Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Mindoro, Palawan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales and Metro Manila.

PAGASA’s criteria in declaring the onset of the rainy season include the prevalence of southwest monsoon and rainfall of 25 millimeters in at least five out of eight PAGASA stations for five consecutive days. 

Last year, PAGASA officially announced the start of the rainy season on June 8