El Niño less likely this year–Pagasa

AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The El Niño phenomenon is less likely to occur in the country this year, an official from the state weather bureau said on Monday.

During the budget deliberations of the Department of Science and Technology at the House of Representatives, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) administrator Vic Malano said there is now a 75 percent chance of having El Niño this year, a drop from the forecast of 80 percent in the last two months.

“Kapag lumagpas na ng December, very slim na ang chances na magkakaroon ng El Niño,” Malano told lawmakers.

Pagasa had said that the El Niño may occur this year, but they later said the phenomenon is delayed.

“A majority of climate models indicate that El Niño may develop this year. El Niño is characterized by unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP),” said in a statement in June.

“Pagasa has already noted significant increase in the [sea surface temperature] from 0.2 to 0.4 C from April 21 to April 28, 2014. Because of this development and as climate models predict that this condition may persist for the next nine months,” Pagasa said.

Pagasa said that El Niño affects the rainfall patterns in the country.

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