MANILA, Philippines—The northeast monsoon, locally known as Amihan, officially started Thursday with the development of a high pressure system over mainland China ushering the cold winds to the Philippines, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
Weather forecaster Manny Mendoza said the northeastearlies bringing cold and dry air from China to the northern parts of Luzon.
“There would be a gradual decrease of temperature, with the winter season developing over China, the northeasterly winds bringing the cold air here in the Philippines,” Mendoza said.
He added that the peak effects of the northeast monsoon would be felt in January and February with cold weather to linger over the country.
“There would be no drastic change in the temperature, for now it is only in the northern part of Luzon where the cold temperature would linger,” Mendoza said. “Slowly, cold weather would take over the country.”
Colder early morning temperature in the coming days and months would likely be felt over Luzon, with chances of light rains especially over the northern and eastern sections of the country.
Mendoza said that these rains would be lighter than the rains that the intertropical convergence zone and the southwest monsoon brought to the country.