THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) declared yesterday the onset of the rainy season which usually lasts until November.
Citing latest weather analysis and rainfall date, PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said the agency has observed “scattered to widespread rainfall” in the past five days due to the southwest monsoon or “habagat.”
“This signifies the onset of the rainy season across the western sections of Luzon and Visayas,” said Servando in a statement.
“However, there may still be breaks in the rainfall that extend over a few days or weeks, referred to as monsoon breaks,” he added.
Servando said PAGASA will continue to monitor the country’s weather and climate situation.
“The public and all concerned agencies are advised to take precautionary measures against the adverse impacts of the rainy season, `habagat,’ and other climate and weather events,” he said.
Last year’s onset of the rainy season was declared on May 29 following the occurrence of scattered rain showers, frequent thunderstorms, “passage” of typhoon Agathon, and the southwest monsoon that brought significant rains to the western sections of Luzon and the Visayas.
The country has two seasons — the rainy season which usually occurs from June to November, and the dry season, which is subdivided into cool dry season (from December to February) and hot dry season (from March to May).
PAGASA said the country is facing an average of 20 tropical cyclones per year, with eight to nine of them crossing the landmass.
“The peak of the typhoon season is July through October, when nearly 70 percent of all typhoons develop,” PAGASA said.
For this year, PAGASA said 10 to 19 tropical cyclones are expected.
