Fair weather this weekend

CEBU, Philippines - Devotees of the Señor Sto. Niño can expect a sunny weather during the fluvial procession and the Sinulog Grand Parade this weekend.

 State weather bureau PAGASA said its latest forecast models indicate “fair” weather during the fluvial procession this Saturday and the grand parade this Sunday.

PAGASA Visayas Director Oscar Tabada said this Saturday would be sunny with a projected wind strength of 10 to 15 kilometers per hour.

“The Sinulog feast will have fair and sunny weather,” he told TheFREEMAN.

Devotees attending the early morning novena mass today at the Basilica del Sto. Niño, however, are advised to bring with them umbrellas or raincoats because light to moderate rains may persist for 30 minutes to one hour. 

On the other hand, Tabada said the temperature recorded yesterday was almost the same as that during the hottest day recorded in Cebu this month.

PAGASA Mactan recorded a temperature of 31 degrees Celsius, just a notch lower than the hottest recorded temperature of 31.3 degrees on January 9.

Tabada also said that for the past 11 days, they recorded a total of 9.4 millimeters rainfall, which is way lower than the average of 118.9 mm.

He said that if there is a dry spell, rainfall is expected to lessen by 21 to 60 percent than the average rainfall.

He said low percentage of rainfall is expected until April due to the intensified El Niño phenomenon, which was experienced last in the Philippines in 2010 yet.

Tabada said the the El Niño will greatly affect rainfall patterns, with normal rainfall being reduced by more than 60 percent during drought. During this period, the average rainfall would be 79.3 mm in February; 62.8 mm in March; 44.3 mm in April; and 103.1 mm in May. – (FREEMAN)