It’s official: Summer is here

MANILA, Philippines - Summer has started.

This was the official announcement yesterday from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

PAGASA acting administrator Vicente Malano said the wind system has shifted from northeasterly (cold air) to easterly (warm and humid air).

The prevalence of the easterly wind or the warm and humid air from the Pacific Ocean is the criterion in declaring the onset of the dry season or summer.

Malano said gradual increase of the daily air temperature is expected over most parts of the country in the coming days.

“The weather condition will be mostly hot and sunny with isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms, particularly over the eastern section,” Malano said.

PAGASA recorded the warmest temperature in Metro Manila at 2 p.m. yesterday at 34.2 degrees Celsius.

Malano said the eastern section of the Visayas and Mindanao would have moderate to rough seas due to the strong easterly winds.

PAGASA deputy administrator Flaviana Hilario warned against slightly warmer temperatures in Central Visayas, some parts of Luzon including Metro Manila, and some parts of Luzon during the dry months.

Hilario said no El Niño event was forecast to aggravate the summer heat at least until May.

However, she said foreign climate prediction centers reported a 50-50 chance of El Niño development in the third quarter of this year.

El Niño refers to the unusual warming in the equatorial Pacific and is usually associated with below normal rainfall.