Summer not yet here - Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines -  Despite the warmer weather over past days, the summer season has not yet set in, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said yesterday.

Pagasa weather forecaster Rene Paciente said the prevalence of the easterly wind is the criterion for declaring the onset of the dry season in areas under Type I climate. The easterly wind brings warm and humid weather in the country.

Paciente said they will also monitor the rise in daytime temperatures.

“If the minimum temperature will reach 22 degrees Celsius or 24 degrees Celsius, and the maximum temperature reaches 33 degrees Celsius to 34 degrees Celsius, we may declare the onset of the dry season,” he said.

Areas under Type I climate include Metro Manila, Ilocos region, western part of Mountain Province, western part of Nueva Ecija, Central Luzon, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, Occidental Mindoro, southern parts of Antique and Iloilo, northwestern part of Palawan, and the southern parts of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.

Paciente said the weather bureau would make an official announcement once the dry season sets in.

“The northeast monsoon is still strong,” Paciente said.

He said the system continues to bring light rains over some parts of the country.

However, he said the northeast monsoon – which brings cool weather in the country – is likely to weaken during the latter part of March.

Paciente said the dry season starts around April to May.

Weather experts had warned Filipinos that they may experience a wet summer this year because of the prevailing La Niña phenomenon.

Meanwhile, Paciente said low-pressure areas are likely to form in Mindanao in the next few days which would bring rains over the region.

However, he said no tropical cyclone is expected to affect the country this week.