THE rainy season might start in the last week of this month or the first week of next month, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said yesterday.
The rainy season typically occurs from June to November.
“Thunderstorms are becoming more frequent, especially in the afternoon, as the rainy season nears,” PAGASA weather specialist Veronica Torres said in a radio interview in mixed English and Filipino.
“It’s possible the declaration (of the rainy season) will be last week of May or first week or the first part of June,” said Torres.
Last year, PAGASA declared the onset of the rainy season on May 29 after the occurrence of scattered rain showers, frequent thunderstorms, and the “passage” of typhoon “Aghon.”
In a weather forecast, PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said the rainy season “starts at the latter part of May or first week of June.”
The country has two major seasons. One is the rainy season which occurs usually from June to November. The other is the dry season which is subdivided into “cool, dry” (occurs from December to February) and “hot, dry” (March to May), PAGASA said.
Torres and Badrina said no low pressure area, outside or inside the Philippine area of responsibility, was monitored by PAGASA as of yesterday morning.
Torres also said the intertropical convergence zone will bring rain showers in Mindanao, Eastern Visayas and Palawan.
She said Metro Manila and the rest of the country will have fair weather with chances of localized thunderstorms.
Torres said the country will continue to experience elevated temperature and heat index levels.
In an advisory issued on Saturday afternoon, PAGASA said 25 areas, including Pasay City, are forecast to experience “danger level” heat index (42 to 51 degrees Celsius) today.
