THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday declared the start of northeast monsoon or “amihan” season.
PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said the high pressure area in Siberia has strengthened in the past several days.
This, Servando said, led to a “strong surge of northeasterly winds, which is expected to affect the northern portion of Luzon beginning today.
“Furthermore, successive surges of northeasterly winds are expected over the next two weeks, leading to an increase in atmospheric pressure and cooling of surface air temperature over the northern portion of Luzon,” he said.
“The development of these meteorological patterns indicate the onset of the northeast monsoon season,” he added.
The northeast monsoon is characterized by cold winds from the northeast that bring rains to the eastern side of the country.
The onset of the northeast monsoon came over a month after the southwest monsoon ended. The southwest monsoon is characterized by warm moist winds from the southwest, causing rains in the western portion of the country.
“With these developments, the northeasterly wind flow is expected to be more dominant in most of the country, bringing cold and dry air,” said Servando in declaring the onset of the amihan season.
“Episodes of wind and cold temperature surges, as well as increasing prevalence of rough sea conditions, especially over the seaboards of Luzon are also expected in the coming months,” added Servando.
