Pagasa says rainy days are coming

Rainy days are almost here.

The state weather bureau on Wednesday declared the start of the southwest monsoon, but it doesn’t mean the rainy season is finally here.

“When you say start of the southwest monsoon, it doesn’t necessarily mean onset ng rainy season, kumbaga panimula ng pag-uulan na nararanasan (it only means the start of rainy days),” said Robert Sawi, chief weather forecaster of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.

The onset of the rainy season would only come when the “full-blown” monsoon is here.

The rainy season is declared when five of the eight main weather stations have at least 25 mm amount of rainfall in a span of days, with at least 1 mm of rain for three consecutive days, said Analiza Solis, officer in charge of Pagasa’s climatology division.

Only three stations have met the criteria so far.

“It is expected that during the remaining days of May light to moderate rainshowers and isolated thunderstorms will prevail. However, it may be followed by short dry period called monsoon break.  Occasional to frequent rains and thunderstorms in most parts of Luzon and Visayas will be experienced in the coming months due to southwest monsoon activity,” Pagasa said in a separate statement.

The weather bureau also predicts 17 to 20 typhoons to hit the country this year, according to Pagasa weather division head Esperanza Cayanan.

Last year, 14 typhoons struck the Philippines. IDL