Manila, Baguio cold spell to last till February's end

MANILA, Philippines - The northeast monsoon or the Amihan will continue making mornings cooler in Metro Manila and Baguio City until the end of February, the state weather bureau said Monday.

PAGASA weather observer Alex Naga said in the cold spell blowing southeast from China to the Philippine capital dropped the temperature to 18.4 degrees Celcius on Monday morning.

Naga said the Amihan winds peak blow from early January through mid-February.

An 8.4-degree Celsius morning, meanwhile, was recorded in the country's summer capital Baguio City.

Manila's coldest morning this year so far was last Saturday at 17.5 degrees, while Baguio's coolest so far was last Sunday at 8.1 degrees.

The lowest recorded temperature in Metro Manila was at 15.1 degrees on February 4, 1987 and again on December 30, 1988.

Baguio City experienced a 6.3-degree temperature--the coldest ever--on January 18, 1961.