Dry season to start on Valentine’s Day

CEBU, Philippines - The weather bureau is warning the public to brace for a hotter weather starting tomorrow, Valentine’s Day, which signals the onset of the “dry hot season.”

 Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Mactan chief meteorologist Al Quiblat said the cool northeast monsoon winds, “Amihan,” from China and Siberia are expected to wane in for two more days and will be replaced by the warmer Easterly winds from the Pacific Ocean.

 Quiblat said Cebu’s temperature on Sunday would range from 25 to 31 degrees Celsius, a bit higher than the forecasted temperature of 24 to 31 degrees Celsius for February 11 to 13.

PAGASA Mactan earlier forecasted February to May as drought months. The agency defines drought as three consecutive months of way below normal rainfall condition or more than 60 percent reduction from average rainfall.

 But the consecutive rains last month delayed the onset of the drought, which would likely hit most parts of the country starting May yet.

 PAGASA recorded January’s total rainfall at 116 mm, which is “near normal.” The normal rainfall last month was at 124.6 mm.

 Quiblat said drought would not take effect yet, but the rainfall starting this month would still be below normal due to the prolonged El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to end by mid-year.

 The normal rainfall for February is 77 mm. However, Quiblat said it is unlikely to meet because of expected less rainfall with only 21-60 percent.

 The average rainfall for the months of March and April are at 61 mm and 50 mm, respectively.

 “April has the lowest rainfall for the entire year and start of summer,” he said.

 Quiblat said the dry weather condition or dry spell will continue until April.

 He describes dry spell as three consecutive months of below normal (21 to 60 percent reduction from average) rainfall conditions.

Further, Quiblat said the weather will be fair in the next few days for the whole country. 

Quiblat said no tropical cyclone is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility throughout the outlook period.

 “There are no significant weather disturbances outside and inside the PAR,” he said.-

 Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 is urging the public to conserve water with the prevailing dry season that may trigger water shortage in various parts of the region.

Water conservation measures include checking for plumbing leaks and reporting pipe leaks to the water concessionaires; using water sparingly, such as when brushing teeth and washing hands.

 “The most vulnerable sectors that will most likely be affected by El Niño are agriculture, fisheries, energy and the environment,” said DENR-7 regional director Isabelo Montejo.

 The environment agency made the appeal after reports of water shortage, particularly in agricultural areas affecting a number of towns in Central Visayas.    (FREEMAN)