Baguio chills as temperature drops

FROST has blanketed sections of Atok town in Benguet province once again, but it’s a seasonal phenomenon for which most vegetable farmers are prepared. Atok and other upland towns become far colder than Baguio City between December to February each year. GLADYS MAXIMO/CONTRIBUTOR

BAGUIO CITY – The summer capital turned into the cuddling capital as the mercury dropped to 10.3 degrees Celsius Saturday morning.

The plunging temperature, the lowest so far recorded this month, was brought in by the cold winds blowing from China, according to an official of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration here.

Efren Dalipog, weather specialist at Pagasa, said the temperature could drop further in the coming days, especially in the elevated vegetable towns in Benguet province, which have been experiencing almost freezing weather.

“Towns in Benguet such as Atok and Mt. Sto. Tomas have lower temperature than Baguio. The difference between Baguio and those places is normally from 2 to 3 degrees Celsius. It is freezing in those areas already,” he said.

He said the temperature in Baguio in the past few days since Christmas has fluctuated from 11 to 13 degrees Celsius.

On January 6, Baguio cooled down to 12 degrees, but found temperatures rising to 12.6 degrees on Jan. 7 and dropping steadily to 12.2 degrees on Jan. 8, and 11.5 degrees on Jan. 9. Friday’s temperature rose to 12 degrees before dropping sharply to Saturday’s 10.3 degrees.

“Expect the temperature to drop further in February, which is the peak of the cold season,” Dalipog said.