Has warm, dry season already started? Here’s what PAGASA has to say

by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz, MB

Baguio City (COMMONS WIKIPEDIA/ MANILA BULLETIN/ FILE PHOTO)

The cold air from the northeast monsoon or “amihan” continues to be experienced in large parts of Luzon and Visayas although it is relatively weak compared to the previous weeks, said a weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

“Sa mga nagtatanong kung simula na ito ng tag-init o warm dry season sa ating bansa, ang sagot po natin ay hindi pa (To those who are asking if this is the beginning of summer or warm, dry season in our country, our answer is not yet),” PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja said on Friday, Feb. 3. 

“Makakaranas pa rin tayo ng mga pagbugso ng amihan hanggang matapos ang Pebrero dito sa malaking bahagi ng Luzon, as well as Eastern Visayas habang sa unang bahagi ng Marso ay meron pa rin tayong amihan lalo na sa may Northern and Central Luzon (We will still experience surges of northeast monsoon until the end of February in large parts of Luzon, as well as in Eastern Visayas, while in early March, we still have surges of northeast monsoon, especially in Northern and Central Luzon),” he added.

Estareja said the northeast monsoon will continue to temporarily weaken in the coming days, before another surge of amihan by mid-February.

PAGASA defines amihan as cold winds from the northeast that bring rains over the eastern side of the country.

It also records the coldest day of the year during the northeast monsoon season.

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The cool and dry season is from December to February, while the hot and dry season is from March to May.

In the next 24 hours, PAGASA said partly cloudy to cloudy weather with light rains due to the northeast monsoon or amihan may affect Luzon and Visayas.

Meanwhile, Mindanao will have partly cloudy to cloudy weather with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

PAGASA advised the public to stay vigilant against possible flash floods or landslides during severe thunderstorms.

According to Estareja, no new tropical cyclone will be seen entering the Philippine area of responsibility in the next few days, based on the latest weather forecast.

However, he said PAGASA monitored a cloud cluster over the Pacific Ocean. 

Estarejsa said Southern Mindanao may experience scattered rain showers and thunderstorms by Sunday, Feb. 5, due to the intertropical convergence zone.