MANILA, Philippines — Expect more rains in the first half of next month with the onset of the wet season.
Near-normal rainfall will prevail in many parts of the country next month, except for Apayao, most of Ilocos, Cagayan, Tarlac and Zambales, which will experience below normal rainfall, Flaviana Hilario, deputy administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said yesterday.
“Based on our rainfall forecast, the onset of the rainy season for areas under Type 1 climate – these are areas along the western side of the country and... associated with habagat or southwest monsoon – is expected during the first half of June,” Hilario said.
The areas under Type 1 climate are Bataan, Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Mindoro, Palawan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Zambales and Metro Manila.
Hilario said Filipinos should brace for five to eight tropical cyclones until August. She said July and August are the peak rainy months in the western portions of the country.
Weak El Niño
PAGASA said it continues to monitor a weak El Niño, a weather pattern associated with below normal rainfall.
El Niño, which developed in October 2018, has triggered drought and dry spells in several provinces.
Hilario said the severe impact of El Niño was experienced in April, with drought hitting 41 provinces and 23 provinces suffering from dry spells.
This month, 40 provinces are experiencing drought while six are under dry spell.
Dry spell pertains to two consecutive months of way below normal rainfall. Drought refers to five consecutive months of below normal rainfall.
Hilario said El Niño would likely last until August, but may drag on until the end of the year.