Longer nights ahead amid two equinoxes, says Pagasa

The Metro Manila skyline at night (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Longer nights should be expected amid the beginning of two equinoxes, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical and Services Administration (Pagasa) said in a recent advisory.

According to Pagasa, the autumnal equinoxes in the northern hemisphere and the vernal equinox in the southern hemisphere began on Sunday, September 22.

“During equinoxes, the day and night are each approximately 12 hours long,” Pagasa said.

“The time discrepancy is caused by atmospheric refraction, enabling us to observe the sun minutes before it actually rises and sets,” it explained.

READ: Fair weather forecast on Monday (Sept. 23) as habagat weakens

On Monday, Pagasa said the sun was expected to set at 5:53 p.m. — over 12 hours after the sunrise at 5:45 a.m.

Meanwhile, with the expected longer evening, fair weather was forecast over most of the country on Monday with the weakening of the southwest monsoon, locally known as the habagat.

No low-pressure areas are also being monitored within the Philippine area of responsibility.