Weak El Niño setting in, may last one year

MANILA, Philippines–A “weak” El Niño is now affecting the country and the dry spell may last for most of the year, the weather bureau said on Tuesday.

“New developments show notable signs revealing El Niño is in progress,” the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in a statement dated March 9 but not yet released officially.

The El Niño weather phenomenon is characterized by unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean that prevents the upswelling of nutrient-rich cold deep water and that disrupts typical regional and global weather patterns.

According to Pagasa, El Niño could result not only in generally reduced rainfall but also in the erratic behavior of tropical cyclones.

It has advised the government agencies concerned to take the necessary measures to mitigate any adverse effects of El Niño, in the form of below-normal rainfall and higher-than-normal temperature in varying degrees around the country.

Pagasa said the consensus among computer models indicate that a “weak El Niño” is likely to last until the middle of the year.

“However, other models indicate further strengthening of the El Niño toward the end of the year,” Pagasa acting administrator Vicente Malano said in the statement.–Dona Z. Pazzibugan