Despite downpour, rainy season not quite here

MANILA, Philippines - Despite frequent rains over some parts of the country including Metro Manila in recent days, the state weather bureau has yet to officially declare the start of the rainy season.

Buddy Javier, weather forecaster at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said the criteria for declaring the rainy season, including the prevalence of the southwest monsoon, have not been met yet.

He added that aside from the presence of the southwest monsoon, at least 25 millimeters of rainfall should be recorded in five out of eight PAGASA stations for three consecutive days.

The stations are in Laoag, Ilocos Norte; Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Dagupan, Pangasinan; Iba, Zambales; San Jose, Mindoro; Metro Manila; Ambulong, Batangas and Iloilo.

Javier said the rains experienced in Metro Manila and nearby provinces were due to localized thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, two to three tropical cyclones are expected to enter the country this month.

Javier said the cyclones would be named Ester, Florita and Glenda.

He said the occurrence of a low-pressure area or a tropical cyclone may induce monsoon rains.

Last year, the weather bureau officially declared the start of the rainy season on June 10.

The forecasters expect normal rain despite the developing El Niño. Foreign meteorological agencies predicted that El Niño is 70 percent likely to develop in August.