PAGASA Officially Declares Start of Dry Season in the PH

Expect warmer weather now that the dry season has arrived, the state weather bureau announced on Wednesday, March 16.

Vicente Malano, administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), announced in a press release statement the termination of the Northeast Monsoon (Amihan), which officially marks the start of the dry season and warmer weather conditions.

“The recent analyses indicate retreat of the High Pressure Area (HPA) over Siberia, thereby weakening of the associated Northeasterly winds and decreasing sea level pressure in the country. Moreover, the wind pattern has generally shifted from Northeasterlies to Easterlies over most parts of the country as a result of the advancing HPA over the Northwestern Pacific,” he said.

Last year, the state bureau announced in late October the start of the Northeasterlies when cold and dry air from Siberia started bringing cold weather to the Philippines.

Malano added that the country’s day-to-day rainfall distribution will be “influenced mostly by easterlies and localized thunderstorms.”

PAGASA warns the public to take precautionary measures to reduce heat stress, which can lead to heatstroke, and optimize daily water usage. They will continue to monitor the weather and climate situation in the country as we expect hotter and more humid weather in the coming days.