Warm weather to persist

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu will continue to experience humid weather despite the onset of the rainy season, the state weather bureau said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa)-Visayas Chief Alfredo Quiblat, Jr. said warm weather will prevail for the next days.

The warm, humid weather is attributed to the weak southwest monsoon or habagat.

For Cebu, that would mean lesser rains for the rainy season, which Pagasa declared on Friday, June 14.

Quiblat said Cebu will experience breaks in rainfall events (also known as monsoon break).

In fact, he said, Cebu only received an actual rainfall of 20.6 millimeters or 10.8 percent from its average rainfall of 190.4 millimeters every June despite the intermittent rains.

He explained that habagat, which typically brings rains to the country, has weakened due to presence of the ridge of the high pressure area.

Pagasa also noted that rainfall conditions for July are expected to be generally near to above normal over most parts of Luzon and the Visayas, while generally below normal in most areas of Mindanao and Southern Visayas.

LPA Spotted

In another development, a low pressure area (LPA) is spotted outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

Quiblat said this rain-inducing weather system is seen to enter PAR by Sunday.

As it draws near the country on Monday, rains may occur in Cebu.

He said there is less possibility that the LPA will develop or elevate into a tropical cyclone (bagyo), and there is also a slim chance that it will hit land.

For this month, Pagasa forecasts one or two tropical cyclones to enter the PAR. A tropical cyclone could enhance monsoon rains, which could lead to flooding in low-lying areas.

From July to November, 10 to 11 tropical cyclones are predicted to develop and enter PAR.

Two to three tropical cyclones are predicted in July and August. September has the most forecasted number with two to four tropical cyclones.

In October, two to three tropical cyclones are seen to develop and enter PAR, while one to two tropical cyclones are expected in November.

Quiblat advised the local disaster units to prepare for heavy rains as this might trigger flooding and landslide.

He, however, said the rainfall conditions in September and October might be affected or may become below than the normal as an effect of the prevailing weak El Niño.

Pagasa said a weak El Niño condition persisted in the tropical Pacific since the last quarter of 2018 and may persist during the June-July-August 2019 rainy season.

Quiblat was one of the speakers during the second quarter Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council meeting at Capitol Social Hall yesterday.

El Niño damage

Moreover, the El Niño-induced damage to Cebu's agri-products, livestock, and fisheries has already reached P121.9 million, according to the provincial disaster office.

The amount was consolidated from the reports of 35 local government units affected by the weak El Niño.

Cebu province is still under a state of calamity due to the impact of the El Niño. (FREEMAN)