MANILA, Philippines?While the country is still wilting from the hot and dry weather brought about by the El Niño phenomenon, state meteorologists are already sounding off on the arrival of La Niña.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) administrator Prisco Nilo said there is a 35-percent probability that the effects of La Niña, which are the opposite of El Niño?s, would be felt in the country by July.

?According to our calculations, there is a 35 percent chance La Niña would start possibly around July, August or September,? he told the Inquirer.

He said that the agency expects above-normal rainfall when La Niña starts.

This early, Nilo said PAGASA agency is coordinating with other agencies such as the National Disaster Coordinating Council, the Department of Health, the Department of Interior and Local Government and the National Cross to prepare for the onset of La Niña. He also emphasized that local governments must also start preparing for the rainy season and La Niña.

?We expect rains in the third quarter of the year anyway so there is a need to prepare. The usual hazards during the rainy season are floods and landslides. So areas that are prone to these hazards must start to prepare,? Nilo said.

The La Niña phenomenon refers to the abnormal cooling of sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific whose effects are usually the opposite of El Niño?s. The El Niño phenomenon is the abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures that can result in drought in some areas of the world and storms and extreme wet weather in other parts.

Thus, while El Niño brings extreme dry weather or drought to the Philippines, La Niña is expected to bring above-average rain.