Cooler months ahead as amihan replaces habagat

MANILA, Philippines — Cool weather associated with the Christmas season will begin to be felt next month, the state weather bureau said on Wednesday. 

PAGASA said the northeast monsoon, locally known as "amihan," would start to blow in October.

"Malapit na pong magpalitan ang habagat at amihan. Ngayon po may habagat pa rin pero napakahina na," PAGASA weather forecaster Nikos Peñaranda told radio station DZMM in an interview.

Amihan brings cool air into the country during the latter months of the year, when Filipinos mark the yuletide season. It usually lasts until the first few months of the following year.

On the other hand, the southwest monsoon, or "habagat," typically brings heavy rains during the months that typhoons visit the country most frequently. 

As of its 3 p.m. update on Wednesday, PAGASA said the "habagat" would trigger scattered rainshowers in Central Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao and the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Weather forecasters are also closely watching whether Typhoon Paeng would strengthen the "habagat," which usually causes heavy rains and trigger flash floods.

Peñaranda said while"Paeng" is currently inside the Philippine area of responsibility, it is unlikely to have a direct effect in the country.

That said, rains and cold weather would prevail over northern Luzon because of "Paeng." The region is still reeling from the damage caused by Typhoon Ompong two weeks ago.

Ompong, the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year, left more than 80 people dead, while damage to crops and livestock reached P26.7 billion as of last Monday.

"Sa extreme northern Luzon, nakakahila po 'yung bagyo ng may kalamigan na hangin, dahil nga doon sa lokasyon niya. Hindi pa po ito 'yung amihan dahil hindi pa po dumidiretso doon sa ibang parte ng Pilipinas at Indonesia," Peñaranda said.