PHILIPPINE Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has declared the onset of the rainy season.
However, PAGASA stated that the heat index will continue even as the rainy season begins.
Dr. Marcelino Villafuerte, the Deputy Administrator for Research and Development of DOST-PAGASA, said that there are still areas in the country experiencing hot weather even though the rainy season has been declared.
“For example, here in the eastern section of Visayas and some areas in Mindanao, and even here in Metro Manila, if we notice today it’s hot, and then right after, until about 2 P.M., 3 P.M., it’s still hot. And then eventually due to the hot conditions until early afternoon, it leads to the formation of convective clouds and then eventually in the afternoon, there are rains,” stated Dr. Marcelino Villafuerte, Deputy Administrator for R&D, DOST-PAGASA.
PAGASA continues to advise the public to stay hydrated to avoid the possible severe effects of the hot weather.
PAGASA also explained that the El Niño phenomenon in the country is about to end.
“In the coming months, we are expecting it to a transition into a neutral phase. So, it means, no El Niño and no La Niña,” Villafuerte added.
But according to Villafuerte, by the months of July, August, and September, there’s a 69 percent chance that La Niña will begin.
“La Niña usually peaks around the end of the year and then continues until the following season next year, at least the first quarter,” Villafuerte expressed.
Meanwhile, DOST-PAGASA stated that there are expected to be 13 to 18 typhoons to enter the country in 2024.
This figure is still lower than the usual number of typhoons entering the country each year, which is around 19 to 20.
It can be recalled that in 2023, only eleven (11) typhoons hit the country.
This low number is attributed to the occurrence of the El Niño phenomenon.
“During La Niña, we expect more landfalling tropical cyclones especially in the eastern and central sections of the Philippines including Mindanao, because this is typical during the last quarter of the year,” he stressed.
