Chilly mornings in Baguio...finally

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Following the cold temperature of nine degrees  Celsius recorded on Monday in Baguio by the Philippine weather bureau, the city of pines is presently living up to its promise to cool down visitors with its chilly weather.

Due to the cold front and the northeast monsoon or “Hanging Amihan”,  the chill has prompted residents to wear their thick jackets and mufflers and  bring out their thermal  blankets to keep them warm and ward off the bone-tingling temperature in the early mornings and evenings.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration expects Baguio weather to get colder of between nine degrees and 11 degrees starting Thursday until the weekend. After the weekend, PAGASA expects Baguio to experience a slight rise in temperature in the next three or four days.

Middle of next week,  however, PAGASA expects Baguio temperature to be  between 12 degrees and 13  degrees Celsius.

So far since the start of the so-called cold months  of December, January and February,  Monday’s 11 degrees was the lowest dip.

On February 4, 2012, temperature dropped to a record low of 10 degrees, and exactly a year before that, Baguio experienced a chilly 9.4 degrees Celsius temperature.

The coldest temperature recorded in Baguio so far was 6.1 degrees Celsius in January 1961.

In recent years, the coolest was recorded at 7.5 degrees Celsius in the morning of January 15, 2009.

Owing to Baguio's “signature cold” weather, businesses such as "ukay-ukay" (second hand) shops are benefitting.

Likewise, coffee shops offering the signature “Benguet barako coffee” are gaining from  residents and tourists who are trying to keep themselves warm. - Artemio Dumlao