METRO Manila and 23 provinces in Luzon and the Visayas may experience drought this month due to the El Niño phenomenon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.
PAGASA said these areas are “potential for meteorological drought conditions.”
“Drought is defined as three consecutive months of way below normal rainfall condition (more than 60 percent reduction from average rainfall),” it said.
The 23 provinces forecast to experience drought are Abra, Apayao, Aurora, Bataan, Benguet, Cagayan, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Pangasinan, Quirino, Rizal, Zambales, and Negros Occidental.
Seventeen provinces are facing possible dry spell, which PAGASA said means “three consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition (21 to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall).”
These are Batangas, Laguna, Masbate, Oriental Mindoro, Antique, Biliran, Capiz, Cebu, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Iloilo, Leyte, Negros Oriental, Samar, Lanao del Norte, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.
There are 10 areas facing dry condition, which PAGASA said means “two consecutive months of below normal rainfall condition (21 to 60 percent reduction from average rainfall).”
The 10 are Bulacan, Bohol, Siquijor, Southern Leyte, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay.
PAGASA said the weather systems that will likely affect the country this month are the northeast monsoon, localized thunderstorm, shear line, easterlies, low pressure area and zero to one tropical cyclone that may enter or develop inside the Philippine area of responsibility.
“(The) predicted rainfall conditions for the month show that way below to below normal rainfall conditions are likely over most parts of the country with some exceptions of near normal rainfall conditions over the provinces of Bukidnon, Davao Region, and Caraga,” PAGASA said.
“In addition, the forecast shows a 45-50 percent probability of having below normal rainfall conditions in most parts of the country,” added PAGASA.
PAGASA said it will continue to closely monitor the El Niño phenomenon and monsoon activity.
“Areas potential for meteorological dry spells and drought will be updated and will be disseminated accordingly,” PAGASA said.
It encouraged all government agencies and the public “to take precautionary measures to mitigate the adverse impacts of the said climate phenomenon.”
