Pagasa declares onset of dry season in PH

COOL IT. In this file photo, young boys cool their heels by jumping at the waters of Manila Bay in Baseco, Tondo in Manila on March 29, 2017. Pagasa on Friday, March 22, 2019, declared the beginning of dry season in the country. INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — The state weather bureau on Friday declared the start of dry season in the country.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) had earlier warned the public to gear up for a longer dry season due to the prevailing weak El Niño.

The dry season signals the end of the northeast monsoon. The easterlies and ridge of high pressure area are its dominant weather systems.

Last year, the dry season started on the second week of April.

Technically, there are only two seasons in the Philippines — wet and dry. Weather forecasters don’t call it summer.

The rainy season may also be delayed because of the dry spell, Pagasa also said. /kga