Lowest temperature of 11.3°C recorded in Benguet — Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — The coldest temperature so far in the country was reported in Benguet with 11.3 °C, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Tuesday.

As of Dec. 1, Pagasa said the lowest minimum temperature was registered at Benguet State University in La Trinidad, Benguet.

LOOK: Lowest recorded minimum temperature as of Dec. 1.
Photo from Pagasa live. | @ConsINQ https://t.co/ahzzEFPBNf

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) December 1, 2020

Here are the five areas with the lowest registered minimum temperature:

Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet – 11.3 °C

Baguio City – 12.0 °C

Marawi State University, Marawi City – 17.1 °C

Malaybalay City – 18.0°C

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya – 18.1°C

However, Pagasa said this is only the coldest temperature recorded for the day but not for the whole year.

“Hindi pa masabi kung iyon ang coldest for the year. Dahil nagsisimula palang tayo [sa Amihan season],” Venus Valdemoro, officer-in-charge at Pagasa, said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net when asked if the current lowest temperature is the lowest minimum temperature for the whole year.

(We can’t say yet if that is the coldest for the year. We are just starting the Amihan season.)

Valdemoro said they recorded 10 °C in Benguet last week.

Ariel Rojas, Pagasa weather specialist, said colder days are expected due to the northeast monsoon (amihan).

“Mas malamig ang panahon na aasahan sa second half ng Disyembre at mas malamig pa sa Enero, Pebrero, kung saan ang kasagsagan ng Amihan season,” Rojas said in a Pagasa video livestreamed on Pagasa Facebook page.

(We will expect colder temperatures in the second half of December and in January and February during the onset of the Amihan season.) [ac]