THE country may experience up to two more tropical cyclones before the end of the year, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.
PAGASA weather specialist Joey Figuracion said they are not seeing any tropical cyclone entering the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) in the next two weeks but “we have a forecast that for the month of December, before the end of the year, we may experience one to two tropical cyclones.”
He also said low pressure areas and the shear line may bring rains to some of the country during the period, he said.
The country has had only 10 tropical cycles this year so far. The annual average of tropical cyclones in the country is 20, with July through October as the peak of the typhoon season.
Figuracion said the fewer tropical cyclones this year can be attributed partly to El Niño, a phenomenon that increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall conditions that may lead to dry spells and droughts.
“Tropical cyclones are developing far (from PAR), they are developing more in the east.
That means that if they are far, they are not reaching our area of responsibility and that also means reduction in the frequency of tropical cyclones entering our country,” said Figuracion.
“That might be good news but the truth is tropical cyclones are the drivers of rains. They are one of the factors that bring us rains,” he said.
He said the climate in the Philippines will be hovering between 12 and 39 degree Celsius from December to February. He said the lowest temperature will be felt mainly in upland Luzon.
“Our December will be warmer than normal. But expect cold surges or low temperature because we are in amihan (northeast monsoon) season as of now, in December,” he said.
As to the temperature in Metro Manila this month, Figuracion said it will be from 17 to 36.5 degrees.
