Pagasa: Drought may hit 24 provinces due to El Niño

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty three provinces in Luzon and one in the Visayas may be affected by a drought from the ongoing El Niño phenomenon by the end of February, the state weather bureau said,

According to the advisory of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Tuesday, the current phenomenon will continue through the month, and will persist until May.

Pagasa said drought due to El Niño may hit Abra, Apayao, Aurora, Bataan, Benguet, Cagayan, Cavite, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Kalinga, La Union, Metropolitan Manila, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan, Pangasinan, Quirino, Rizal, Zambales and Negros Occidental. “A strong and mature El Niño is expected to continue through February 2024. The majority of global climate models suggest that El Niño will likely persist until the March-April-May 2024 season, with a transition to ENSO-neutral conditions expected in the April-May-June 2024 Season,” Pagasa said.

In February, none to one tropical cyclone may enter the Philippine area of responsibility, it added.

There is also a 45-50 percent chance that below normal rainfall will be experienced in most parts of the country. Pagasa assured that a strong El Niño does not automatically translate to strong impacts, and that the foreseen effects may not occur in all parts of the country.

Pagasa added that it will continue to monitor the present phenomenon.