MANILA, Philippines — La Niña, which brought above normal rain in some parts of the country in recent months, is gradually weakening, but is likely to persist until March, the state weather bureau said yesterday.
“La Niña has reached its mature stage in November and December. Now, it is partially or gradually weakening in terms of sea surface temperature anomalies,” Ana Liza Solis, chief of the climate monitoring and prediction section of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a virtual climate forum.
Solis said the weather phenomenon would continue to bring above normal rain over the eastern section of the country, particularly over the Visayas, portions of Bicol and Mindanao in February and March.
“Around 69 provinces in the country may experience above normal rain due to the remnants of La Niña,”she said.
The La Niña phenomenon brought more tropical cyclones and other rain-bearing weather systems in the country last year that triggered floods and landslides.
Meanwhile, PAGASA said it expects a shorter summer as the rainfall distribution might extend until March.
”March and April will be the dry season based on our rainfall forecast,” Solis said.