Pagasa: Rainy season starting soon

MANILA, Philippines -The onset of the rainy season may be declared next week, even as five to eight tropical cyclones are expected to hit the country from June to August this year, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Wednesday.

Pagasa Deputy Administrator Flaviana Hilario said the start of the rainy season may be declared on the first or second week of June.

“Hindi pa talaga nasa-satisfy ang criteria for the onset [of the rainy season but] based sa ating monitoring, the onset will be either during the first week or second week of June,” Hilario said during the weekly economic briefing at Malacanang Palace.

Hilario explained that for the rainy season to be officially declared, two criteria have to be met — the amount of rainfall recorded in the western side of the country has to be at least 25 millimeters over a five – day period, and the “habagat” has to be the dominant wind system in the country.

Asked if the start of the rainy season is late, Hilario said it still falls within the normal period.

“Ang normal po natin ay either second half of May hanggang first half of June,” Hilario said.

Hilario said rainfall condition will be generally near normal in many parts of the country except Apayao, most parts of the Ilocos region,  Cagayan, Tarlac and Zambales, which would experience below normal conditions in June.

In July, rainfall condition will be generally normal over Luzon and Visayas and generally below normal over most of parts of Mindanao and southern Visayas.

By August, Hilario said rainfall conditions will be generally near to above normal in most areas of the country. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)