Sweat it out, but it ain’t summer yet

MANILA, Philippines–Don’t bring out those swimsuits just yet; the days may feel hot, but summer is at least two weeks away, according to weather forecasters.

Forecasters from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the northeast monsoon or amihan would be very much around until mid-March, after which summer officially begins.

According to forecaster Jaime Bordales, the highest temperature in Metro Manila on Saturday was recorded at 33.5 degrees Celsius at 1:50 p.m., slightly lower than Friday’s highest temperature in the metropolis at 34.3 degrees around 2 p.m.

Friday’s temperatures in the rest of Luzon were also described as being at “summer levels,” with Cabanatuan City in Central Luzon hitting 33.5 degrees, and Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province recording the highest temperature at 34.8 degrees.

Last year, the temperature in Tuguegarao City, considered the hottest place in the country, reached 40.4 degrees on June 1.

Bordales said the weekend high temperatures, brought about by the easterlies and caused by a momentary lull in amihan, are usually of the same level during the summer months.

“(But) it is not yet summer,” the forecaster said, adding that there was still a possibility that the amihan, although much weaker, will return and prevail over the northernmost part of Luzon.

Bordales said the onset of summer, basically characterized by a shift from the prevailing northeast monsoon to easterly and southeasterly winds, normally comes in the second or third week of March.

When summer finally sets in, temperatures will rise higher, soaring to over 35 degrees, the forecaster added.

According to Pagasa’s forecast for Sunday, Batanes as well as the Calayan and Babuyan islands in northern Luzon will be partly cloudy to occasionally cloudy with isolated light rains, while Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds will prevail over the Visayas and Eastern Mindanao, where coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate with slight to moderate seas.