MANILA, Philippines — Is your umbrella, raincoat, or Rainy Day playlist ready? Speed up and get prepared because the rainy season has just started.
On Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) formally declared the beginning of the rainy season in the Philippines following the presence of two meteorological systems that brought rain to several areas of Luzon and Visayas in the past few days.
“The presence of frontal system and the occurrence of severe thunderstorms have brought widespread rains during the last five days in areas under Type I climate and other parts of the country; moreover, southwesterly wind flow was also observed during the past few days. This satisfies the criteria of the start of the rainy season over the western sections of Luzon and Visayas.”
PAGASA
According to the weather bureau, the rain associated with the southwest monsoon would start affecting Metro Manila and the western sections of the country; however, breaks in rainfall events (also known as monsoon breaks), which can last for several days or weeks, may still occur.
The ongoing La Niña is also expected to affect parts of the country, increasing the likelihood of above-normal rainfall conditions in the coming months. La Niña is a weather phenomenon “characterized by unusually cool ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific” which may lead to more rain in some areas of the country.
PAGASA noted that they will monitor the day-to-day weather and long-term climate situation as well as provide updates when significant changes occur.
Some people may enjoy the rain, but people who often go out for work may find this a little inconvenient, so everyone is advised to be prepared and stay safe this rainy season.