Cold season may end next month – Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines - The cold season associated with the northeast monsoon may end sooner than expected this year due to the prevailing El Niño phenomenon, the state weather bureau said yesterday.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) expects the termination of the northeast monsoon next month.

Last year, the northeast monsoon ended in April.

Temperatures in lowland Luzon may reach as high as 41.5 degrees Celsius in May, according to PAGASA.

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

In Metro Manila, the maximum temperature is expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius in March, 38 degrees Celsius in April, 38.6 degrees Celsius in May and 37.4 degrees Celsius in June. 

So far, the hottest day ever recorded in Metro Manila was on May 14, 1987 when it registered a temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius.