Plip, plip, ploop, plip: Pagasa officially declares rainy season

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has officially declared the start of the rainy season on Friday.

“The occurrence of scattered to at times widespread rainfall associated with the Southwest Monsoon during the past few days as observed by most Pagasa stations in the western section of the country confirms the onset of the rainy season over the areas under the Type I climate,” the state weather bureau said in an advisory.

Pagasa added that rainfall conditions for July are expected to be “generally near to above normal” over most parts of Luzon and Visayas.

But areas in Mindanao and the southern Visayas will generally have below normal rainfall conditions.

“Meanwhile, [the] weak El Niño condition has persisted in the tropical Pacific since the last quarter of 2018 and likely to continue during the June-July-August 2019 season,” Pagasa said.

“Pagasa will continue to closely monitor the situation and updates/advisories shall be issued as appropriate. The public and all concerned agencies are advised to take precautionary measures against the impacts of the rainy season,” the state weather bureau added. (Editor: Eden Estopace)/ac