Luzon, Visayas to experience ‘below normal’ rainfall

MANILA, Philippines - Some parts of Luzon and Visayas will experience “below normal” rainfall next month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday. 

In its climate outlook, PAGASA said western and central Luzon and eastern Samar will have below normal rainfall while the rest of the country will have “near normal” rainfall. 

PAGASA said there is also a slim chance of tropical cyclone formation in February.  

Meanwhile, PAGASA said the El Niño phenomenon is unlikely in the next few months as scientists noted a drop in the temperature of Pacific Ocean the past weeks. 

El Niño is the abnormal warming of the Pacific Ocean and is associated with below normal rainfall. 

The government is monitoring the phenomenon as it could adversely affect the volume of rainfall and reduce water supply in dams.

The state weather bureau said most climate models indicate that warm condition will prevail until next month.  

PAGASA also noted that sea surface temperature decreased across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific over the past two weeks.