El Niño phenomenon weakening — Pagasa

The El Niño phenomenon that started July last year has just about run its course, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday.

Pagasa made the announcement after observing that sea surface temperatures, though still warmer than usual for this time of year, are "in neutral conditions" over the equatorial Pacific.

"This means that the sea surface temperature is 0.5 degrees higher or lower than the average temperature of about 29.0 degrees Celsius," said Dr. Prisco Nilo, Pagasa deputy director for operations and services.

According to Dr. Nilo, the latest El Niño is only "mild" like the 2002-2003 warm episode, compared to the 1997-1998 heat wave that hit the Philippines, other parts of Asia and the rest of the world.

While the El Niño phenomenon of 2004-2005 is already weakening, Nilo warned of a possible resurgence of the warm episode.

"That is why we continue to closely monitor the day-to-day weather conditions and the large-scale climactic patterns affecting the Philippines and updates will be issued as necessary," he said.

Nilo also reiterated Pagasa’s advice to all concerned government agencies to continue implementing appropriate measures to mitigate the continuing impact of the weakening El Niño on agriculture, water resources, hydropower generation, health and sanitation, and other sectors.

Meanwhile, Pagasa said average rainfall conditions are anticipated in most parts of the country this month while isolated areas in Western Luzon and Eastern Visayas are likely to experience below-average rainfall.

The expected ranges of temperature this month are 22 to 34 degrees Celsius for Luzon, 16 to 24 degrees Celsius for mountainous areas of Luzon, 22 to 32 degrees Celsius for Visayas, 23 to 32 degrees for Mindanao, and 19 to 29 degrees Celsius for mountainous areas of Mindanao.

"One or two tropical cyclones are expected to enter the Philippine area in June," Pagasa added.