Pagasa watches for possible dry spell

CEBU, Philippines — The Mactan station of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) will be closely monitoring the rainfall conditions over Cebu this February and the succeeding months.

Earlier, PAGASA-Mactan warned that predictions indicate that dry conditions or dry spell might hit some areas of the Visayas region by April or May.

Jhomer Eclarino, weather specialist of PAGASA-Visayas, said the local weather station checks continuously the monthly rainfall over Cebu leading to May.

If for consecutive two months Cebu experiences “below normal” rainfall conditions, it may be placed under dry condition while three consecutive months of the same condition results in a dry spell.

The 31 days in January accumulated at least 134.5 millimeters of actual rainfall, this amount reaches the “near normal” level. The same happened last December wherein Cebu also received rains near the normal or average level.

He, however, said that this has yet to be seen this February and in the next months if Cebu will continue to get near normal rainfall condition.

More so in March, he said, because the “dry” hot season typically sets in on this month. The hot season, also called here as “summer,” may last until May.

He said the onset of the “dry” hot season may develop once the prevailing northeast monsoon or “amihan” is terminated. He added amihan is seen to peak by February but may only bring light rains to Cebu.

Occurrence of dry conditions and dry spell are anticipated with the looming development of a weak El Niño.

Eclarino said according to international prediction centers, there is 65% chance that a weak El Niño may develop in the first quarter of 2019.

He said the weather bureau is still monitoring the development of this phenomenon and its effects on the country.

Prolonged dry periods may result in drought and cause devastating impacts on water supply and agricultural lands. (FREEMAN)