‘El Niño to affect 67 provinces this month’

MANILA, Philippines — The number of provinces to be affected by El Niño is seen to rise to 67 by the end of this month.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the provinces to be hit by drought this month is also expected to go up to 30 compared to 24 by the end of February.

PAGASA said among these provinces are Abra, Apayao, Aurora, Bataan, Benguet, Cagayan, Cavite, Ifugao, llocos Norte, llocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Laguna, Metro Manila, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Pangasinan, Quirino, Rizal and Zambales.

Antique, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte and Negros Occidental are also forecast to experience drought.

Below normal rainfall conditions or 21 to 60 percent reduction from the average for five consecutive months or way below normal rainfall conditions for three consecutive months will be experienced in drought-affected provinces.

PAGASA said 22 other provinces – five in Luzon, nine in the Visayas and eight in Mindanao – would experience dry spell. Fifteen other provinces will experience dry conditions.

The government’s El Niño task force had earlier said 80 provinces would be affected by El Niño in April and May.

While El Niño has shown signs of weakening, PAGASA said there could be a delay in the onset of the rainy season in the country due to the predevelopment of La Niña.

PAGASA raised a La Niña watch last week, citing forecasts, which show a 55 percent chance of it developing in the next six months.

La Niña is associated with above normal rainfall conditions that may trigger floods and landslides.

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the northeast monsoon is affecting Northern and Central Luzon.

Cloudy skies wil light rains are forecast over Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon. Isolated light rains may be experienced in Ilocos.

Easterlies may bring scattered rains over Caraga, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Cebu and Bohol.

The rest of the country may experience isolated rains due to easterlies or localized thunderstorms.