Cebu’s rainfall amount nearing normal level

CEBU, Philippines — Despite the numerous hot days this dry season, Cebu province has already received almost near its expected rainfall amount.

Alfredo Quiblat, Jr., officer in charge of Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)-Cebu station, said Cebu province already registered this month alone an actual rainfall amount of 82.3 millimeters following the downpour last Friday.

"That (figure) is already close to the normal rainfall amount that the province is expected to get," he told The FREEMAN over a phone interview.

Based from the PAGASA data, Cebu province records an average rain of 108 millimeters in the month of May.

May, which is considered as the hottest month for the year, is expected to have more dry days and lesser rainy days.

Quiblat discounted the idea that these rains are an effect of the weak La Niña.

He said the weak La Niña phenomenon has no significant impact to the atmospheric conditions here since it is already slowly declining.

This means the sea surface temperature in the tropical Pacific is gradually returning to neutral conditions, he said.

La Nina is closely associated with the unusual cold temperatures in the tropical Pacific that, for one, causes intense rains to the country.

Moreover, Quiblat said the recent rainfall is not yet an indication of the arrival of the rainy or wet season.

He, however, said that based from historical records, the offset of the rainy season is expected on the last week of May until the first half of June. Last year, the rainy season began on June 10.

Quiblat said certain criteria are followed before the state weather bureau declares the start of the rainy season.

First, the wind blowing to the country must dominate in the westward direction.

Quiblat said the prevailing wind affecting the country for now is the easterly or the hot and dry winds originating from the Pacific Ocean.

He said in the coming days, the direction of the wind will slowly transition from the easterly to westerly.

He further explained that the seasonal wind, the Southwest monsoon (locally known as "Habagat"), will gradually set in.

He said these winds from the southwest typically bring rains to the country.

Second criterion is the amount of rain that the western sections of the country have been receiving.

He said localities in the western areas must record at least 25 millimeters of rain in five successive rainy days.

He said that once these criteria are met, then PAGASA will declare officially the start of the rainy season.

The seasons in the country is significant as it affects the daily living of the people, and other businesses especially in the agriculture sector. — GAN (FREEMAN)