PAGASA officially declares onset of dry or summer season in PHL

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MANILA — Despite with the incoming typhoon in the country, Filipinos can now expect warmer days ahead as the Philippinem Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Wednesday officially declared the onset of the dry or summer season.

In an interview, PAGASA weather forecaster Shelley Ignacio said the “cold” northeast monsoon has ended and the high-pressure area (HPA), which is the opposite of a low pressure area (LPA), will be the dominant weather systems in the country.

Ignacio said the termination of the northeast monsoon was the agency’s primary indicator of the onset of summer.

The northeast monsoon or “hanging amihan” is the cold wind from Siberia that blows into the country, usually from mid-October until March.

In a recent PAGASA observations showed significant increase in daily temperature recorded in most parts of the country. Analysis indicate the establishment of the North Pacific High which favors the shift of wind direction from northeasterly to easterly. Considering changes in the wind pattern and pressure system related with the changing of the season, the current weather condition signifies the imminent termination of the Northeast Monsoon.

With this development, associated weather conditions include increasing number of warm days and generally good weather in most areas of the Philippines partly due to the dominance of the ridge of High Pressure Area (HPA) and the easterlies. However, some isolated rainshowers and thundertorms may also be expected primarily due to convective activities caused by heat island effect and/or wind convergence. Coastal waters on the other hand, may at times be moderate due to expected prevalence of strong easterly wind blowing particularly over eastern Luzon and Visayas.

PAGASA advised the general public to take precautionary measures to minimize heat stress and take note of the need in optimizing the daily use of water for personal and domestic consumption.

Ignacio said that Ridge of High Pressure Area (HPA) extends over Northern Luzon.

She said with the summer season, the temperatures in the country could climb up to 37 degrees Celsius, depending on the place.

She added that both the HPA and the easterlies will bring high temperatures and good weather conditions to the country in the coming days, resulting in more humid weather.

However, she noted that passing rains, especially in the afternoon or evening, is still possible due to localized thunderstorms or convections due to easterlies.

Citing climatological record, PAGASA said the dry or summer season in the country usually lasts until middle of June.

She noted that the hottest temperature in the country so far for this year was recorded in General Santos at 37.2 degrees Celsius last March 26 and Tuguegarao at 36.6 degrees Clesius recorded last March 14 while in Metro Manila 35.1 last March 29.

Based on the PAGASA’s climatological record, the hottest temperature in Metro Manila was recorded on May 14, 1987 at 38.5 degrees Celsius.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in the country was in Tuguegarao, Cagayan at 42.2 degrees Celsius on May 11, 1969.

Meanwhile, Ignacio said that typhoon Maysak (international name) is expected to enter the country by Wednesday evening or early Thursday and it will be locally name “Chedeng”.

Ignacio said that as of 4 p.m. Typhoon Maysak was still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and was located, based on all available data, at 1,165 km east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar (11.3°N, 136.4°E), its maximum sustained winds decreased from 215 kph to 190 kph on Wednesday afternoon near the center and gustiness from 250 kph to 225 kph.

She said the typhoon has weakened its strength due to sea surface temperature.

She added the movement of the typhoon is west northwest and gains its speed from 17 kph to 20 kph.

He said once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility, it will not yet directly affect the country but will bring rains with winds over the Northern and Central Luzon by Friday until weekend.

She noted the agency will raise public storm warning over the provinces of Bicol region and Samar provinces by Thursday afternoon.

With maintaining its speed and movement, Ignacio said the typhoon is expected to make a landfall in eastern coast of Aurora, Quezon or Isabela by late Saturday or early Sunday.

She added the typhoon Chedeng would also bring rains and gusty winds in Metro Manila by Saturday or Sunday.

In the next 24 hour forecast, PAGASA said Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Ilocos Region will experience partly cloudy skies. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

It added that light to moderate winds from the east to southeast will prevail over Northern Luzon and coming from the east to northeast over the rest of the country with slight to moderate seas.