It’s official: Pagasa says summer is here

The heat is on.

And so are the trendiest beach outfits for bodies that want to look cool when temperatures rise.

Summer is officially here and it comes a little early than usual this year.

“It’s anomalous this year. We can say it’s time to go to the beach,” said Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) forecaster Jun Galang, noting that the temperature would rise even more in the next weeks.

The probability of a typhoon spoiling company outings is low as well, Galang said. March, April and May could have one tropical cyclone or none at all, he said, citing Pagasa models.

The weather bureau said the high-pressure ridge usually makes itself felt in the Philippines no sooner than the third week of March, but not this year.

The dry season is here with the exit of the northeast monsoon and the dominance of the north Pacific high-pressure ridge, which is responsible for the warm and sunny weather from March to May, according to Pagasa.

Galang said the temperature for the month of March ranges between 21 and 33 degrees Celsius. Maximum temperature in the country is expected to hit mid-30s Celsius as the dry season peaks.

Hottest days in May

By comparison, Metro Manila’s hottest day last year had a reading of 35.3 degrees Celsius, which happened on April 16. The hottest days in the country are usually recorded in May, according to Pagasa records.

The months of March, April and May are considered the height of summer in the country, when millions troop to the beaches. These are usually the driest months, with typhoons hitting only in mid-May, when the country transitions to the wet season.

The Philippines has entered the summer season but parts of the country will still experience above-average rainfall because of the La Niña weather phenomenon in the Pacific.

Galang said the system will be responsible for the easterlies that will bring isolated rain showers, especially in the eastern seaboard.

“From March, April and May, it will be weakening but there will still be easterlies,” he said.

La Niña, which had a resurgence late last year, is a phenomenon that occurs when the surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean gets colder. El Niño refers to the increase in the surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean.

Pagasa said it expects the temperature in the ocean to return to normal by mid-year.